Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
1994-9-20
pubmed:abstractText
In the first two experiments, subjects' choices to earn points (exchangeable for money) either by competing with a fictitious opponent or by not competing were studied. Buskist, Barry, Morgan, and Rossi's (1984) competitive fixed-interval schedule was modified to include a second response option, a noncompetitive fixed-interval schedule. After choosing to enter either option, the opportunity for reinforcers became available after the fixed-interval's duration had elapsed. Under the no-competition condition, points were always available after the interval had elapsed. Under the competition condition, points were available based on a predetermined probability of delivery. Experiments 1 and 2 examined how reinforcer probabilities and reinforcer magnitudes affected subjects' choices to compete. Several general conclusions can be made about the results: (a) Strong preferences to compete were observed at high and moderate reinforcer probabilities; (b) competing was observed even at very low reinforcer probabilities; (c) response rates were always higher in the competition component than in the no-competition component; and (d) response rates and choices to compete were insensitive to reinforcer-magnitude manipulations. In Experiment 3, the social context of this choice schedule was removed to determine whether the high levels of competing observed in the first two experiments were due to a response preference engendered by the social context provided by the experimenters through instructions. In contrast to the first two experiments, these subjects preferred the 60-s fixed-interval schedule (formerly the no-competition option), indicating that the instructions themselves were responsible for the preference to compete. This choice paradigm may be useful to future researchers interested in the effects of other independent variables (e.g., drugs, social context, instructions) on competitive behavior.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:commentsCorrections
http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-13685461, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-14013456, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-14120132, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-14130099, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-14218297, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811359, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811453, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811593, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811833, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811886, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811900, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16811951, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16812006, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16812396, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16812474, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-16812490, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-1816570, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-2305007, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-5660707, http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/commentcorrection/8064209-8410963
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0022-5002
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
62
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
133-48
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-9-13
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1994
pubmed:articleTitle
Effects of social context, reinforcer probability, and reinforcer magnitude on humans' choices to compete or not to compete.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Texas, Houston 77030.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.