The matching law predicts that 57% of responses should be emitted on the VI 15-sec alternative and 43% on the VI 20-sec alternative. A pigeon actually emits 70% of responses on the VI 15-sec alternative and 30% on the VI 20-sec alternative. This is an example of:
A) COD.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) optimization.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The matching law suggests that the proportion of responses on two alternatives should match the proportion of reinforcements obtained from those alternatives. When the actual proportion of responses is more extreme than predicted, it is an example of overmatching. In this case, the pigeon's responses are more heavily skewed towards the VI 15-sec alternative than the matching law predicts, indicating overmatching.

The Matching Law Predicts That 57% of Responses Should Be