An Evaluation of the Effects of Fixed-Time Schedules on Response Maintenance

Response-independent schedules of reinforcement (e.g., fixed-time schedules) have typically been shown to decrease the rate of responding. However, researchers have suggested that responses may maintain under response-independent schedules, although it is currently unclear as to what mechanisms are responsible for this maintenance. The purposes of the current study were to (a) replicate previous research showing that responding will maintain under fixed-time (FT) schedules after a history of response-dependent reinforcement, (b) evaluate a simple procedure for promoting response maintenance under FT schedules if this pattern of responding is not observed, and (c) determine possible mechanisms by which response maintenance under FT schedules occurs. We found for several children that responding maintained under FT schedules, both with and without a history of contingent reinforcement. In addition, for those children whose responding did not maintain under FT schedules, a single within-session dependent reinforcer promoted maintenance under FT schedules. Finally, for some children for whom mechanisms were evaluated, stimulus control was likely the factor that was responsible for response maintenance. Implications and considerations for future research are discussed.