The Operant Manipulation of Vocal Pitch in Normal Speakers

1971 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Moore ◽  
Anthony Holbrook
Keyword(s):  
Fundamental Frequency ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Differential Reinforcement ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Operant Response ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Therapeutic Technique ◽  
Vocal Pitch ◽  
Electronic Filters

A device consisting of variable electronic filters and voice-actuated relays was used to raise or lower the vocal pitch of four normal-speaking subjects by the differential reinforcement of selected frequencies emitted by them during oral reading. Continuous, fixed interval, fixed ratio, and variable interval reinforcement schedules were applied to each subject. The results of the study indicated that fundamental vocal frequency is a manipulable operant response. All reinforcement schedules examined produced high rates of response at the selected frequency for all subjects. The variable interval schedules produced the most consistent, high durations of response for all subjects. The method of manipulation of fundamental frequency investigated in the study appears to have promise as a therapeutic technique, especially for deaf speakers and clients with functional pitch disorders.

scholarly journals A Behavioral Analysis of an Assembly Line Inspection Task

1969 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 339-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard V. Badalamente ◽  
M. M. Ayoub
Keyword(s):  
Differential Reinforcement ◽  
Assembly Line ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Behavioral Analysis ◽  
Vigilance Decrement ◽  
Precise Control ◽  
Observing Responses ◽  
Industrial Inspection ◽  
Inspection Task

The problem of sustained efficiency in monotonous perceptual tasks is particularly pertinent to industrial inspection. The present research has extended Holland's techniques of behavioral analysis to an industrial framework by analyzing the assembly-line inspection of products. By utilizing four basic schedules of defective product (fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval), it was demonstrated that the detection of defectives can serve as reinforcements for observing behavior. In addition, the vigilance decrement associated with the inspection task was shown to be a function of the differential reinforcement of observing responses. The fact that a rather precise control can be exerted by the environment over the operator's observing behavior has important implications for industry. Some of these implications are discussed.

Maximizing versus Matching in People versus Pigeons

1982 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 267-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Mawhinney
Keyword(s):  
Choice Behavior ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Single Subject ◽  
Concurrent Schedules ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Behavioral Choice ◽  
Human Choice ◽  
Alternative Schedule ◽  
Fixed Ratio Reinforcement

A single subject allocated behavior to several concurrent variable interval/fixed ratio reinforcement schedules and a series of fixed ratio schedules with no other alternative schedule present. The allocation of behavior to the real choices (concurrent schedules) and no choice (fixed ratio only) schedule situations conformed to those predicted by formal equations for maximization of reinforcements in each situation. The results suggest that, while matching may be a fundamental rule of behavioral choice in animals and people, there exist identifiable limitations to its applicability to human choice behavior. Humans with some training in economic income maximization are likely to maximize rather than match in concurrent choice situations.

Response Cost and Reinforcement Contingencies of Managing the Behavior of Distractible Children in Tutorial Settings

1982 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul T. Sindelar ◽  
Miriam S. Honsaker ◽  
Joseph R. Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Differential Reinforcement ◽  
Learning Disabled ◽  
Response Cost ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Behaviorally Disordered ◽  
Temporal Precision ◽  
Attending Behavior

The effects of differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) and response cost (RC) on the attending behavior of two distractible children were assessed in two case studies. In the first study, a seven-year-old learning disabled girl was initially rewarded for completing segments of her reader without looking away, then punished by the removal of a token contingent upon lookaways. Both contingencies were effective in reducing the frequency of lookaways although response suppression was slightly greater during the RC phases. Oral reading rates increased concurrently with the reduction in lookaways, and was highest during the RC phases. In the second case study, the same strategies were used with a ten-year-old, behaviorally disordered girl. The DRO contingency failed to control the frequency of her lookaways although the RC contingency proved successful. The differential effects of the DRO contingency in the two case studies were attributed to differences in the reinforcement schedules; the differential effect of the RC contingency was ascribed to the temporal precision with which it was administered.

Schedule-Induced Polydipsia in the Rhesus Monkey

1966 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 823-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles R. Schuster ◽  
James H. Woods
Keyword(s):  
Water Intake ◽  
Rhesus Monkeys ◽  
Food Reinforcement ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Interval Schedule ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Food Schedule ◽  
Continuous Reinforcement ◽  
Schedule Change

Four rhesus monkeys were allowed water, which was continuously available on a fixed-ratio 1 (FR-1) schedule of reinforcement, and food, which was available on differing reinforcement schedules. In Exp. 1, water intake greatly increased when the food schedule was changed from continuous reinforcement to a variable-interval schedule. In Exp. 2, when the same schedule change was employed but the number of food reinforcements was held constant, the water intake increased as in Exp. 1. In Exp. 3, a fixed-ratio 25 (FR-25) schedule of food reinforcement was employed in which a total of approximately 80 food pellets were divided among 4, 8, 16, or 24 periods per 24-hr. session. Water intake was related linearly to the increase in the number of food periods. Since water responding took place only after the FR-25 food periods, it was argued that the schedule-induced polydipsia observed was not due to accidental chaining.

Conditioning History and Maladaptive Human Operant Behavior

1965 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 935-942 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harold Weiner
Keyword(s):  
Operant Behavior ◽  
Reinforcement Schedule ◽  
Differential Reinforcement ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Variable Interval ◽  
Human Operant ◽  
History Of ◽  
Past Experiences ◽  
Human Operant Behavior ◽  
Laboratory Situation

Two experiments are presented which examined the effects of different past experiences (histories of conditioning) upon maladaptive human behavior in an operant conditioning laboratory situation. In Exp. I, unnecessary punished responding under a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule was shown to result from a history of fixed-ratio conditioning. In Exp. II low rates of variable-interval responding which produced unnecessary reinforcement loss followed a history of conditioning under a differential reinforcement of low rate schedule.

Behavioral Effects of Microwave Reinforcement Schedules and Variations in Microwave Intensity on Albino Rats

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 787-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
William F. Vitulli ◽  
J. Ken Lambert ◽  
Stella W. Brown ◽  
Joseph M. Quinn
Keyword(s):  
Microwave Radiation ◽  
Thermal Environment ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Behavioral Effects ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Ratio Schedule ◽  
Albino Rats ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Continuous Reinforcement ◽  
Exploratory Investigation

The objective of this exploratory investigation was to determine the interactive effects of fixed-ratio scheduling of microwave reinforcement in tandem with changes in microwave intensity. Nine albino rats were conditioned to regulate their thermal environment with microwave radiation while living in a Skinner (operant conditioning) Box in which the ambient temperature was about 27.13°F at the beginning of the session. Each rat obtained a 6-sec. exposure of microwave radiation on a fixed-ratio schedule of MW reinforcement, the values of which varied from FR-1 to FR-30. Intensities of MW radiation were 62.5 W, 125 W, 250 W, and 437.5 W. Sessions lasted for 8 to 9 hr. over an approximate 13-mo. period. The effects of the intensity of microwave reinforcement varied as a function of the ratio value of the schedule used. Continuous reinforcement (FR-1) produced the lowest over-all rates, whereas FR-15, and FR-25 produced the highest over-all rates. Relatively higher thermal-behavior rates occurred under 62.5 W than under any of the other MW intensities for FR-1, FR-15, and FR-25, whereas FR-10 and FR-30 ratios produced intermediate rates of thermal responding which were constant for all values of MW intensity. These data are explained in terms of interactive effects between the “local” satiation or deprivation properties of the MW intensity and the ratio requirements of the schedule of MW reinforcement.

Comparison of Procedures for Promoting Reading Proficiency of Two Children with Behavioral and Learning Disorders

1980 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 102-107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert A. Gable ◽  
Richard E. Shores
Keyword(s):  
Teaching Strategies ◽  
Oral Reading ◽  
Reading Proficiency ◽  
Learning Disorders ◽  
Learning Behavior ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Teacher Modeling ◽  
Teacher Praise ◽  
Proficiency Level ◽  
Behavior Disordered

This study investigated the effects of two discrete teaching strategies for developing proficiency in oral reading. The use of teacher praise contingent upon pupil correct responses was compared with teacher modeling of words erred. The results clearly indicate that, for two learning/behavior disordered youngsters approaching a proficiency level in oral reading, manipulation of reinforcement schedules was demonstrated to be the more effective approach.

scholarly journals Fixed-interval and fixed-ratio reinforcement schedules with human subjects

1988 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence T. Stoddard ◽  
Murray Sidman ◽  
Joseph V. Brady
Keyword(s):  
Human Subjects ◽  
Fixed Ratio ◽  
Fixed Interval ◽  
Reinforcement Schedules ◽  
Fixed Ratio Reinforcement
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