Observing Responses and Uncertainty Reduction

Abstract

Rhesus monkeys and baboons were placed in an observing response situation where on any trial they could work for food in the presence of an imposed stimulus or make an observing response by pressing a lever to present an alternative stimulus. The reinforcing properties of the alternative stimulus were assessed by placing the observing response on a progressive ratio schedule and were found to vary as a function of the difficulty of the imposed discrimination and the degree to which the imposed discrimination had been learned. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the reinforcing strength of the alternative stimuli varies with the amount of uncertainty they reduce. Eliminating the response requirement showed that the effect was not simply due to the fact that informative stimuli permitted a saving of responses.

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