Rate differential reinforcement in monkey manipulation

A set of four manipulanda were presented to four Cebus monkeys, individually, and later in pairs. Step 1 provided an estimate of each S's probability of operating each item, while Step 2 determined whether pairing the items would disturb the ordinal relations among individual response probabilities. Both procedures provided information necessary for testing the assumption that a reinforcer is simply a contingent response whose independent probability of occurrence is greater than that of the associated instrumental response. Step 3 tested this assumption by again presenting pairs of items, but with one locked and its operation made contingent upon operation of the free item of the pair. The four Ss differed markedly in the extent to which the items produced different independent response probabilities, and correspondingly, in the extent to which the contingent pairs subsequently produced reinforcement. Confirmation of the present assumptions came primarily from one S, which differed substantially on the individual items, and showed five cases of reinforcement, all in the predicted direction. Further, reinforcement was shown by an increase in both contingency and extinction sessions. Finally, the response of intermediate probability reinforced the response of least, but not the one of greatest, probability, indicating that a reinforcer cannot be identified absolutely, but only relative to the base response.