Effects of Reward Magnitude and Duration on Runway Performance

Autor: Lawrence Dachowski
Rok vydání: 1968
Předmět:
Zdroj: Psychological Reports. 23:769-770
ISSN: 1558-691X
0033-2941
DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1968.23.3.769
Popis: Spence (1956) notes that most studies of reward size confound the effects of magnitude and duration of reward. He cites a study (Czeh, 1954) in which Group I Ss received a single large piece of food and their consummatory time was not limited, Group I1 Ss also received a large piece of food but were removed after 30 sec., and Group I11 Ss received a small piece of food and were removed after 30 sec. Group I was superior to Groups I1 and 111, indicating that duration of reward was the significant variable determining performance. However, many Ss in Group I1 did not eat upon reaching the goal box buc merely picked up the food and waited 30 sec. until being removed to the eating cage (Spence, 1956, pp. 138-142). This uncontrolled delay of reward could account for the low level of performance of Group 11. The present study used the same general design, but size of reward was varied by giving different numbers of pellets rather than single pieces of food of differing weight. Method.-The apparatus was a straight enclosed alley 51% in. long and 5 in. wide. The end boxes were approximately 12 in. square and were separated from the alley by guillotine doors. The alley and starc box were painted white, and the goal box was painted black. A metal food dish 2 X 2 X 1/2 in. was fastened to the floor of the goal box by a thumbtack. Two .Ol-sec. clocks were started by raising the start-box door. The first clock was stopped by depression of a treadle just outside che scarc box to give start latencies. The second clock was stopped by lowering the goal-box door to give total time. Subtracting the reading of the first clock frcm the second gave running time. Ss were 60 male hooded rats from the colony at West Virginia Universiry (Mdn,,, of 132 days). Trizls were given ac 23 hr. deprivation, with food available 1 hr. per day and water continuously available. Two acquisition trials separated by about 30 min. were given each day for 20 days. Group I Ss received 12 pellets (45-mg. Noyes standxd formula) on each trial and remained in the goal box until E could see that the food dish was empty; Group I1 Ss also received 12 pellets buc after 20 sec. both S and food dish were removed to a carrying cage where S finished eating; Group 111 Ss received one pellet and were removed afrer 20 sec. 'Based on an M A. thesis submixed ro West Virginia Universiry, 1959. The advice, assistance and encouragement of Arthur R. Thomas are gratefully acknowledged.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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