An Elaboration of Zimmerman's Procedure for Demonstrating Durable Secondary Reinforcement
Thus, Zirnmerman failed to demonstrate what the secondary reinforcer is for the E group and instead provided evidence of variables that affect response rate in the C groups. In addition, Keehn ( 1962 ) clearly found that the secondary reinforcing effecr occurred only when a previously learned response followed the secondarily reinforcing event. His general conclusion was rhat secondary reinforcement affects performance, not learning. Prior to investigating the possible specific reinforcing effects of the buzzer sounding, lifting of the starting box door, escape from the starting box, and traversing of the runway, it seemed appropriate to attempt to decermine whether or not the complex intermittent reinforcement schedule and presence of a secondary reinforcer are necessary to obtain the resulrs reported by Zimmerman. The purpose of the present study was to assess the secondary reinforcing effects of a reinforced cue md a nonreinforced cue when there had been discrimination training. The presence of the SA makes possible comparison of cue effects as well as providing a comparison stimulus for the SD. METHOD