Abstract
Study objectives: The purposes of this article are to show through 2 experiments the possibility of using Yule's Q as a measure of contingency and schedule differences, and to discuss sequential analysis as a method for assessing the function of behavior in natural settings. Settings and Participants: In Experiment 1, the behavior of 30 university students playing a key-touch game was observed. In Experiment 2, the behavior of 2 pigeons was observed as their pecking was first reinforced with fixed ratio / variable ratio / fixed interval schedules, and then extinguished. Measure: All data were analyzed sequentially and plotted in Yule's Q graphs. Results: The results revealed differences between both contingencies and schedules. Conclusion: Comparing these results with classical measurement methods relying on behavioral rates and cumulative records, the present author concluded that sequential analysis using Yule's Q as the measure was useful for identifying contingencies and schedules, laying bare the connection between behavior and environmental events.
