Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement The

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement The Cumulative Record 70 60 Cumulative Responses 50 40 30 20 Key measure of behavior: rate of responding This is the number of responses a subject makes in a period of time, like 1 minute. 10 0 Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 60 Cumulative Responses 50 40 30 20 10 0 A cumulative record shows total (cumulative) responses since the start of the session. By looking at the slope of the line on a cumulative record, you can instantly estimate the rate of responding. Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 60 Cumulative Responses The steeper the slope, the higher the rate of responding. 50 40 30 20 10 0 A steep slope means the subject added a lot of responses to the total during that period of time: Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 A 60 Cumulative Responses 50 40 Increase B 30 Line A adds more responses to the total than does Line B. 20 10 0 Increase Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 60 Cumulative Responses 50 40 30 20 10 0 Increase A straight diagonal line means a constant rate of responding. The number of responses added to the total is always the same from minute to minute. Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 60 Cumulative Responses Negative Acceleration: Response Rate Decreases Over Time 50 40 30 20 10 0 A curved line means that the rate of responding is changing. This is because the slopes are changing, and slope = response rate. Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement 70 60 Cumulative Responses Positive Acceleration: Response Rate Increases Over Time 50 40 30 20 Here, the slopes get steeper from minute to minute, so the response rate is increasing. 10 0 Time

Patterns of Responding on Schedules of Reinforcement The Cumulative Record 70 60 Cumulative Responses 50 40 30 20 10 0 Time