My research also is looking for alternate way to characterize data from choice procedures. The previous results showing that performances at the alternative in a choice procedure are independent of each other suggests that a model of choice need to be based on a model which shows the performances at the alternatives are independent of each other. I showed that behavior at the alternatives, run lengths and visit durations (the number of responses during a visit or the duration of a visit) were power functions of the ratio of the stay and switch reinforcers earned at the alternatives (MacDonall, 1999, 2000). I also showed that the dominant current model of concurrent performance can be derived from the above power function (MacDonall, 1999).
I am also extending the range of this research by looking at variations in choice procedures that are apparent when choice is viewed as two independent performances. The central aspect of this line of research is to keep the symmetric relation between the proportion of reinforcers earned for staying and switching at each alternative, but vary the rates of earning reinforcers. For example, at each alternative, the proportion of reinforcers earned for stay and switching is equal, that is 50%. However, the rates of earning reinforcement at the alternatives differ. This procedure results in approximately equal numbers of reinforcer delivered at the alternatives, but responding at one earns many more stay and switch reinforcers. Is the proportional distribution of reinforcers the primary influence on behavior allocation, or is the rate of earning reinforcers a factor? Ongoing research will help to answer this question.
