Interresponse time and run length shaping by discrete-trial percentile schedule incorporating fixed consecutive number procedure

The effect of incorporating a fixed consecutive number (FCN) procedure in interresponse time (IRT) shaping using a discrete-trial percentile schedule was examined. Eight pigeons were used. On each trial, pigeons were required to peck the IRT start key and then the IRT end key. Reinforcers were presented according to the percentile schedule based on the time interval (IRT) or the cumulative response count to the IRT start key during those two key pecks. Multiple responses to the IRT start key were allowed only in the condition incorporating the FCN procedure. Results showed that incorporating the FCN procedure improved the success of IRT shaping from 1/8 to 7/8 of the pigeons. The procedure developed in this study provides an ideal baseline for studying response shaping with IRT as the dependent variable.