A new variable interval schedule with constant hazard rate and finite time range. Issue 1 (27th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bugallo, Mehdi; Machado, Armando; Vasconcelos, Marco
• Is Part Of: Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior. Volume 110:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 127
• Page End: 135
• Publication Date: 2018-05-27
• Subjects: exponential distribution -- hazard function -- uniform distribution -- variable interval schedule -- temporal contingencies; Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.724
• DOI: 10.1002/jeab.442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5002

Abstract

Abstract : We propose a new variable interval (VI) schedule that achieves constant probability of reinforcement in time while using a bounded range of intervals. By sampling each trial duration from a uniform distribution ranging from 0 to 2 T seconds, and then applying a reinforcement rule that depends linearly on trial duration, the schedule alternates reinforced and unreinforced trials, each less than 2 T seconds, while preserving a constant hazard function.