The role of induction in operant schedule performance

Baum and Davison (2014b) showed that Baum's (2012) recasting of reinforcement as induction may be quantified by assuming that induction follows a power function of reinforcer rate. This power-function induction is readily integrated with theory based on the matching law. Herrnstein (1970) originally assumed background activities (BO) and their associated reinforcers ro to be constant, but ro should vary with BO. Further, power-function induction implies that BO should vary with reinforcer rate. Baum (1993) reported performance on a wide range of variable-ratio (VR) and variable-interval (VI) schedules. Pigeons' VR peck rate followed an inverted U-shaped relation, but VI peck rate separated into three ranges of food rate: low-to-moderate, moderate-to-high, and extremely high. As food rate increases, the concave downward relation in the low range reaches an inflection point and gives way to a concave upward relation in the higher range. At the extremes of food rate, VI peck rate decreases. A model based on competition between induced pecking and BO accounted for VI peck rate in the moderate to extreme range of food rates. Further research will account for all three ranges, either by integrating power-function induction with matching theory or with a model based on competition between induced activities.