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Operant matching is not a logical consequence of maximizing reinforcement rate

Gene M. Heyman, +1 more
- 01 Jun 1979 - 
- Vol. 7, Iss: 2, pp 133-140
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TLDR
In this article, a precise account of the relationship between the distribution of behavior and reinforcement rate on the standard concurrent schedule was given, and it was shown that matching and maximizing are different.
Abstract
The distribution of behavior between concurrently available schedules of reinforcement approximates the distribution of reinforcements between the schedules. This equality, called matching, has been explained as an instance of the principle that organisms maximize reinforcement rate. However, a precise account of the relationship between the distribution of behavior and reinforcement rate on the standard concurrent schedule shows that matching and maximizing are different.

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Journal ArticleDOI

Economic concepts for the analysis of behavior

TL;DR: A review of the relationship between schedule of reinforcement, response rate, and choice suggests that certain unifying concepts from economics can contribute to a more complete science of behavior.
Journal ArticleDOI

Maximization theory in behavioral psychology

TL;DR: Maximization theory as mentioned in this paper is an alternative to reinforcement theory as a description of steady-state behavior, and it provides new insight into these situations and, because it takes context into account, has greater predictive power than reinforcement theory.
Journal ArticleDOI

Game theory and the evolution of behaviour.

TL;DR: How far can game theory account for the evolution of contest behaviour in animals?
Journal ArticleDOI

Optimization and the matching law as accounts of instrumental behavior.

TL;DR: The interaction between instrumental behavior and environment can be conveniently described at a molar level as a feedback system and two different possible theories, the matching law and optimization, differ primarily in the reference criterion they suggest for the system.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI

On the law of effect

TL;DR: Experiments on single, multiple, and concurrent schedules of reinforcement find various correlations between the rate of responding and the rate or magnitude of reinforcement, which can be accounted for by a coherent system of equations.
Journal ArticleDOI

Relative and absolute strength of response as a function of frequency of reinforcement

TL;DR: The present experiment is a study of strength of response of pigeons on a concurrent schedule under which they peck at either of two response-keys and investigates output as a function of frequency of reinforcement.
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