The Effects of Fixed-Ratio and Fixed-Interval Schedules of Reinforcement on Generalization Gradients

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fixed-ratio and fixed-interval schedules of reinforcement on generalization gradients. The subjects were four female rats from the Fischer strain. All subjects v/ere conditioned in the presence of a 2000 hz tone to press the bar for reinforcement. Each subject was then trained to one of the following-schedules of reinforcement: FR-5, FR-30, FI-5, or FI-30. After maintenance on this terminal schedule for three days the subjects were tested for generalization. The generalization test consisted of variations in the frequency of the original SD. Response rate was recorded and gradients of both absolute and relative generalization were plotted. While the FR schedules produced the highest response rates, the subjects trained on the FR-5 schedule of reinforcement exhibited the most generalization