Group Matching and Group Contingencies

Abstract

Matching relations identified by Herrnstein (1961) demonstrate behavior rates as a function of the ratio of reinforcement rates for alternative behaviors. The mathematical relationship identified by Herrnstein and modified by Baum (1974) was later applied to foraging animals, given the option of two patches (Kennedy & Gray, 1993). This application lead to the demonstration that animals (Baum & Kraft, 1998) and humans (Kraft & Baum, 2001) will engage in emergent group behavior that is distinct from individual matching relations. To more completely understand group matching in humans, group relations beyond foraging must be investigated. This study expands on the findings of Kraft and Baum (2001) and subsequent studies by introducing a group contingency for point earnings. Using an ABAB/BABA experimental design, interdependent group contingency was compared to individual contingency in two experimental sessions with different sets of participants. To better understand individual performance in matching rations, a temporal discounting measure was administered to participants (Beck & Triplett, 2009). Scores were transformed into area-under-the-curve values and correlated with total points earned. Participants were divided into teams based on their scores on a measure of temporal discounting with which they earned points during the group contingency conditions. An effect for group contingency was found for Experiment 2 but not Experiment 1. Order effects apparent in the data from both experiments are attributed to the BABA design used in Experiment 2. Results across the two experiments show a relationship between temporal discounting scores and total points earned for participants with valid temporal discounting scores (n = 13). Future research should expand upon these findings in applied contexts.