A NOTATION SYSTEM FOR THE DESCRIPTION OF BEHAVIORAL PROCEDURES¹

Abstract

One characteristic shared by all behavior experimentation is that stimuli are presented to a subject according to pre-designed rules. These rules are variously called conditioning procedures, behavioral procedures, reinforcement contingencies, or reinforcement sched- ules. While behavioral investigations may differ widely with regard to the rigor of specification as well as the nature of the stimuli they employ (even the term stimulus is far from universal), the rules or conditions that govern the presentation of these stimuli must always in some way be conveyed in reporting the work. The purpose of this paper is to pro- pose a notation for the description of these rules.