CHOICE WITH CERTAIN AND UNCERTAIN REINFORCERS IN AN ADJUSTING-DELAY PROCEDURE

A discrete-trials adjusting-delay procedure was used to investigate th e conditions under which pigeons might show a preference for partial r einforcement over 100% reinforcement, an effect reported in a number o f previous experiments. A peck on a red key always led to a delay with red houselights and then food. In each condition, the duration of the red-houselight delay was adjusted to estimate an indifference point. In 100% reinforcement conditions, a peck on a green key always led to a delay with green houselights and then food. In partial-reinforcement conditions, a peck on the green key led either to the green houseligh ts and food or to white houselights and no food. In some phases of the experiment, statistically significant preference for partial reinforc ement over 100% reinforcement was found, but this effect was observed in only about half of the pigeons. The effect was largely eliminated w hen variability in the delay stimulus colors was equated for 50% reinf orcement conditions and 100% reinforcement conditions. Idiosyncratic p references for certain colors or for stimulus variability may be at le ast partially responsible for the effect.