An analysis of the effects of reinforcers arranged in choice contexts

Previous studies have shown participants prefer concurrently available sources of reinforcement relative to a solitary source of reinforcement. The effects of arranging concurrently available sources of reinforcement on the rate of a single response, however, are unclear. In Study 1, a concurrent-chains schedule was used to measure preference between concurrent (choice) and simple FR1 (single-alternative) terminal links. Participants were presented with two plates: a plate with multiple edible items and a plate with one edible item, all edibles were the identical. Results determined that both participants preferred the concurrent link to the single-alternative link. In Study 2, concurrent and single-alternative conditions were arranged for both participants in a multi-element design and schedule requirements for both were systematically manipulated. No differences in absolute reinforcing efficacy between single-alternative and concurrent reinforcement arrangements emerged.