Operative mechanisms of noncontingent reinforcement at varying magnitudes and schedules

In order to examine the mechanism(s) responsible for response reductions fr om noncontingent reinforcement (NCR), multiple magnitudes and densities of NCR were superimposed on a variable ratio (VR) 3 schedule of contingent rei nforcement for the performance of an arbitrary manual response. Data were c ollected on responding that occurred during access to the reinforcer separa tely from responding that occurred between reinforcer access intervals (i.e ., when the participant did not have access to the reinforcer). Higher magn itudes and denser schedules of NCR produced greater reductions in respondin g than did lower magnitudes and leaner schedules. Within-session response p atterns suggested that decrements in responding were primarily a function o f the increased amount of reinforcer access time associated with higher mag nitudes and denser schedules of NCR, That is, it appeared that the particip ant consumed reinforcers (regardless of whether they were delivered conting ently or noncontingently) when they were available and responded for contin gent reinforcers primarily when reinforcers were absent. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.