{"id":{"repo_id":"wvu","oai_identifier":"oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1873"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/wvu/oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1873","repository":{"repo_id":"wvu","name":"West Virginia University","base_url":"https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/do/oai/"},"display":{"title":"Limits of sensitivity to delayed timeout from avoidance","abstract":"Session-reduction procedures have been employed to assess molar control of avoidance responding. By conceptualizing session reduction as a delayed timeout from avoidance, the present study investigated the limits of molar control while minimizing several methodological limitations inherent in such procedures. Six times during each session, a two-link chain schedule was superimposed on a baseline schedule of variable-cycle shock avoidance. Completion of the initial link (fixed-ratio 10 schedule) produced a timeout following a signaled delay during which the avoidance schedule remained operative. For most rats, the delay was manipulated across conditions from 0 s to 60 s. Control by the delayed timeout was indicated by elevated initial-link responding relative to baseline avoidance responding. Reliable initial-link elevations were obtained only when the timeout was presented immediately upon the completion of the initial link. These findings cast doubt on previous interpretations of session-reduction as molar reinforcement, and underscore the importance of response-reinforcer contiguity.","abstract_html":"Session-reduction procedures have been employed to assess molar control of avoidance responding. By conceptualizing session reduction as a delayed timeout from avoidance, the present study investigated the limits of molar control while minimizing several methodological limitations inherent in such procedures. Six times during each session, a two-link chain schedule was superimposed on a baseline schedule of variable-cycle shock avoidance. Completion of the initial link (fixed-ratio 10 schedule) produced a timeout following a signaled delay during which the avoidance schedule remained operative. For most rats, the delay was manipulated across conditions from 0 s to 60 s. Control by the delayed timeout was indicated by elevated initial-link responding relative to baseline avoidance responding. Reliable initial-link elevations were obtained only when the timeout was presented immediately upon the completion of the initial link. These findings cast doubt on previous interpretations of session-reduction as molar reinforcement, and underscore the importance of response-reinforcer contiguity.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Galuska, Chad Michael"],"institution":null,"degree_name":"MA","degree_level":"Thesis","degree_discipline":"Psychology","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Michael Perone.","Kennon A. Lattal","Stanley H. Cohen"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2000,"date_issued":"2000-12-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2000-12-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:15:01Z","subjects":["Behavioral psychology","Experimental psychology"],"languages":[],"rights":[],"rights_urls":[],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/870"],"render_values":[{"text":"https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/870","href":"https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/870","code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.870","outbound_label":"DOI","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Michael Perone.","Kennon A. Lattal","Stanley H. 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By conceptualizing session reduction as a delayed timeout from avoidance, the present study investigated the limits of molar control while minimizing several methodological limitations inherent in such procedures. Six times during each session, a two-link chain schedule was superimposed on a baseline schedule of variable-cycle shock avoidance. Completion of the initial link (fixed-ratio 10 schedule) produced a timeout following a signaled delay during which the avoidance schedule remained operative. For most rats, the delay was manipulated across conditions from 0 s to 60 s. Control by the delayed timeout was indicated by elevated initial-link responding relative to baseline avoidance responding. Reliable initial-link elevations were obtained only when the timeout was presented immediately upon the completion of the initial link. These findings cast doubt on previous interpretations of session-reduction as molar reinforcement, and underscore the importance of response-reinforcer contiguity."]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Limits of sensitivity to delayed timeout from avoidance"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Michael Perone.","Kennon A. Lattal","Stanley H. Cohen"],"dc:creator":["Galuska, Chad Michael"],"dc:date.available":["2019-01-17T08:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["Session-reduction procedures have been employed to assess molar control of avoidance responding. By conceptualizing session reduction as a delayed timeout from avoidance, the present study investigated the limits of molar control while minimizing several methodological limitations inherent in such procedures. Six times during each session, a two-link chain schedule was superimposed on a baseline schedule of variable-cycle shock avoidance. Completion of the initial link (fixed-ratio 10 schedule) produced a timeout following a signaled delay during which the avoidance schedule remained operative. For most rats, the delay was manipulated across conditions from 0 s to 60 s. Control by the delayed timeout was indicated by elevated initial-link responding relative to baseline avoidance responding. Reliable initial-link elevations were obtained only when the timeout was presented immediately upon the completion of the initial link. These findings cast doubt on previous interpretations of session-reduction as molar reinforcement, and underscore the importance of response-reinforcer contiguity."],"dc:identifier":["https://doi.org/10.33915/etd.870","https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/870"],"dc:subject":["Behavioral psychology","Experimental psychology"],"dc:title":["Limits of sensitivity to delayed timeout from avoidance"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Psychology"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_name":["MA"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T06:15:01Z"}