Variability of response location for pigeons responding under continuous reinforcement, intermittent reinforcement, and extinction.

The effect of several reinforcement schedules on the variability in topography of a pigeon's key-peck response was determined. The measure of topography was the location of a key peck within a 10-in. wide by 0.75-in. high response key. Food reinforcement was presented from a magazine located below the center of the response key. Variability in response locus decreased to a low value during training in which each response produced reinforcement. Variability increased when fixed intervals, variable intervals, random intervals, or extinction were scheduled.