Cautiousness, Stereotypy, and Variability in Older and Younger Adults

Older adults and college students performed a computerized task for which points were awarded according to a continuous or variable ratio 3 schedule of reinforcement. Finds continuous reinforcement produced higher stereotypy than intermittent reinforcement for both age groups. A difference was found...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Psychological record Vol. 48; no. 4; pp. 571 - 589
Main Authors Lopatto, David E., Ogier, Stacy, Wickelgren, Emily A., Gibbens, Craig, Smith, Adrianna, Sullivan, Laura, Muns, Melissa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Granville, Ohio, etc Denison University, etc 01.10.1998
Subjects
Factors
Reinforcement
Stereotyped behaviour
Task performance
Variability
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Summary:Older adults and college students performed a computerized task for which points were awarded according to a continuous or variable ratio 3 schedule of reinforcement. Finds continuous reinforcement produced higher stereotypy than intermittent reinforcement for both age groups. A difference was found in stereotypy between age groups during the variable ratio scedule, possibly caused by the greater task anxiety of the older adults. A second experiment showed both age groups learned to vary response patterns when response variability was differentially reinforced. (Original abstract - amended)
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ISSN:0033-2933
2163-3452
DOI:10.1007/BF03395290