Observing Responses and Uncertainty Reduction. II The Effect of Varying the Probability of Reinforcement

Abstract

The observing response paradigm was used to assess the reinforcing properties of discriminative stimuli by allowing animals either to work for food in the presence of a neutral stimulus or to first make an observing response by pressing a lever. On a progressive ratio schedule this resulted in the appearance of easily discriminable stimuli which marked positive and negative trials. The uncertainty associated with the imposed neutral stimulus was varied by manipulating the proportion of positive and negative trials in the session. The animals switched most often when the probability of reinforcement was low, less often when it was intermediate, and least often when it was high. This was not consistent with an uncertainty reduction hypothesis but could be explained if the uncertainty had to do with response rather than outcome.

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