A CONTEXTUAL MODEL OF CONCURRENT‐CHAINS CHOICE
- 1 January 1994
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
- Vol. 61 (1), 113-129
- https://doi.org/10.1901/jeab.1994.61-113
Abstract
An extension of the generalized matching law incorporating context effects on terminal-link sensitivity is proposed as a quantitative model of behavior under concurrent chains. The contextual choice model makes many of the same qualitative predictions as the delay-reduction hypothesis, and assumes that the crucial contextual variable in concurrent chains is the ratio of average times spent, per reinforcement, in the terminal and initial links; this ratio controls differential effectiveness of terminal-link stimuli as conditioned reinforcers. Ninety-two concurrent-chains data sets from 19 published studies were fitted to the model. Averaged across all studies, the model accounted for 90% of the variance in pigeons' relative initial-link responding. The model therefore demonstrates that a matching law analysis of concurrent chains—the assumption that relative initial-link responding equals relative terminal-link value—remains quantitatively viable. Because the model reduces to the generalized matching law when terminal-link duration is zero, it provides a quantitative integration of concurrent schedules and concurrent chains.Keywords
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