Chained and Tandem Fixed-Interval Schedule Performance and Frequency of Primary Reinforcement

Abstract

Performance of pigeons on a three component chained fixed interval schedule and a three component tandem fixed interval schedule was investigated as a function of reinforcement frequency in the terminal components. Stimuli in the chained schedule functioned as discriminative stimuli, demonstrated by absolute response rate differences between comparable chain and tandem schedule components. Absolute differences between chain and tandem response rates of the first two components were relatively invariant when reinforcement frequency in the terminal component was varied.