The role of context in risky choice

Human choice behavior was assessed in a concurrent-chain schedule, where two equal initial links (IL) each led to a distinct terminal-link (TL). One TL was associated with a fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement, while the other was associated with a bi-valued mixed ratio schedule of reinforcement, whose arithmetic mean equaled the Fixed TL schedule. The fixed component (FR50; FR25; FR5) was arranged to be equal to the alternative mixed component in each condition (FR1/99; FR1/49; FR1/9), and choice behavior was measured by proportion of responses to each IL. In addition, the IL duration varied across conditions (VI 30 s; VI 15 s; FI 1 s). Preference for the mixed option was observed with longer durations (e.g., when IL = VI 30 s and TL = FR1/99). Participants were relatively indifferent in other conditions, though the results suggested a monotonic increase in preference as either durations or programmed efforts increased. It is concluded that both choice and the conditioned reinforcement value of the mixed option is contextually based, so that the value of a stimulus correlated with an immediate reward (i.e., FR 1) is enhanced the greater the temporal context in which the FR1 is embedded.

Research highlights
► Given two choices where one is fixed and the other is mixed but provide equal reinforcement (on average), humans will frequently prefer the mixed alternative.
► The context in which the choice is presented determines the conditioned reinforcing value (i.e., choice preference, salience) of the outcome stimuli.
► When choice phase duration was varied, choice preference for the mixed outcome was greatest when choice phase duration was longest (VI 30 s).
► When outcome phase response requirement was varied, choice preference for the mixed outcome was greater when its range was more widely spread (i.e., Fixed: FR50, Mixed: FR1/99).