Secondary reinforcement strength as a function of schedule of primary reinforcement.

Abstract

"2 groups of rats were trained on a lever-pressing task, 1 group on continuous food reinforcement and one on a fixed ratio of 1 reinforcement for every 5th press. The animals were then tested in a 2-lever situation without food reinforcement. Pressing 1 lever produced a light-sound stimulus that had been previously paired with food reinforcement; pressing the other did not. The group [that was] trained on the fixed-ratio procedure showed a significantly greater preference for the secondarily reinforced lever than did the continuous-reinforcement group." (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)