Delay of Reinforcement Effects without Goal-Box Confinement

Abstract

24 male albino rats were randomly assigned to one of three groups, immediate reinforcement, moderate delay, or long delay. Group Immediate (n = 8) received food reinforcement immediately upon entering the goal box and were then placed in a waiting cage. For Group Moderate Delay (n = 8), goal-box confinement was eliminated by placement in a waiting cage rather than confinement in the goal box. Group Long Delay (n = 8) also had goal-box confinement eliminated with placement in a waiting cage for the 30-sec. delay of reinforcement. After acquisition trials, Group Immediate ran significantly faster than both Groups Moderate and Long Delay, but there was no significant difference in speeds between Group Moderate and Group Long Delay. Apparently, previous findings of a delay of reinforcement effect were at least partly associated with timing of presentation rather than goal-box confinement.