Author ORCID Identifier
Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2024
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Kennon A. Lattal
Committee Member
Michael Perone
Committee Member
Nicholas Turiano
Abstract
The tradition of research in the experimental analysis of behavior generally emphasizes the analysis of overt, discrete responses such as lever presses or key pecks. Reflecting this emphasis, definitions of behavior involve the observable action or movement of an organism through space. Although continuous responses involving little to no movement, such as “holding still” or “immobility”, fall outside these definitions, immobility is a form of continuous, operant responding that can be learned and experimentally controlled. Three experiments were conducted to investigate parameters surrounding immobility as an operant. In Experiment 1, immobility in the form of platform-standing bouts was shaped and maintained at steady state on a fixed-duration schedule analogous to a fixed-ratio 1 schedule. The effects of two reinforcement contingencies (one that reinforced remaining on the platform and one that reinforced remaining on the platform and then exiting) on reinforced standing-bout durations were assessed. Reinforced standing-bout durations were differentially controlled, where bouts were systematically longer when platform exit was reinforced. In Experiment 2, each pigeon was exposed to a series (5-55 s) of duration requirements across sessions, in which standing on a platform for a minimum duration was reinforced under both aforementioned reinforcement contingencies. Standing bouts were differentially controlled by bout-duration requirements in both conditions and increased in duration as the duration requirements were increased. Postreinforcement pause durations also increased with duration requirements under both conditions. Finally, Experiment 3 examined extinction of the standing bouts and demonstrated spontaneous recovery of immobility. These results collectively suggest that immobility can be shaped, maintained, differentially controlled, and extinguished like other operant responses.
Recommended Citation
Bajo, Kaʻala K., "Making Something Out of Nothing: Immobility as an Operant" (2024). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12631.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12631