Contingency Control of Spatial Responding

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate fluency in domestic hens. Three experiments involved a simple grid task to see if correct responses, or components such as pecking, could become fluent for reinforcement, whilst incorrect components decreased. This was unsuccessful in the first experiment with a high rate of incorrect and unnecessary pecking observed, so a three second white screen timeout following incorrect pecks was introduced in Experiment 2. This was also unsuccessful, so a three-second black screen timeout following incorrect pecks was introduced in Experiment 3. This was continued along with a black screen timeout following repeated correct pecks on the grid that were unnecessary for reinforcement. Although incorrect pecks decreased with the introduction of the black screen, they did not fade out completely and repeated correct pecks remained at a much higher rate than necessary for reinforcement. Fluency was not achieved, because the contingencies still allowed for reinforcement to be earned despite this unnecessary responding. It is thought that in fluency and precision teaching procedures, the use of the time-restriction is important to increase the speed of correct responses required for reinforcement in order to drive down unnecessary and incorrect components.