Sequential dependencies of the lengths of consecutive response runs.

In an earlier paper (3) a procedure was described in which a minimum number of consecutive responses on lever A was required before a response on lever B would be reinforced. That paper was concerned with the effects of each of two parameters upon a.) the shape of the function relating the probability of a response on lever B to the number of consecutive responses just made on lever A, and b.) the frequency distribution of the lengths of runs. (A "run" is a succession of responses on lever A followed by a response on lever B.) The main purpose of the present paper is to describe some aspects of the sequential dependencies of the lengths of consecutive runs under conditions similar to those in the earlier experiments. A second purpose is to examine some of the effects of withholding reinforcement altogether upon the lengths of successive runs.