The impact of prolonging extinction on the ABC "super renewal" of instrumental responses in rats.

Two free operant conditioning experiments with rats examined the impact of conducting a large amount of extinction training on situations that enhance the ABC renewal effect (ABC super renewal). In Experiment 1, ABC renewal was strengthened by conducting acquisition in multiple contexts. All rats were trained to press a lever for food. One group was trained in one context, while the other two groups were trained in three contexts. Then, all rats received extinction in context B. For two groups this phase lasted 4 sessions, whereas it lasted 36 sessions for the other group. In Experiment 2, ABC renewal was strengthened by using a large number of acquisition sessions. Rats were trained to perform an operant response to obtain food in context A. One group received a moderate amount of training, while the rest of the rats received a larger number of acquisition sessions. Responses underwent extinction in context B. Two groups received 4 sessions, while 36 extinction sessions were used for the remaining group. In both experiments, rats were tested in context B (extinction context) and C (renewal context). Greater ABC renewal occurred both when acquisition training was conducted in multiple contexts (Experiment 1) and by increasing the amount of acquisition training (Experiment 2). Nevertheless, we found that conducting a large number of extinction sessions reduced ABC super renewal in Experiment 1 only.

Escala de Bienestar Subjetivo, versión corta (EBS-8): Revalidación, invarianza de medición y teoría de respuesta al ítem / Subjective Well-Being Scale, short version (EBS-8): Revalidation, measurement invariance and Item Response Theory

Resumen La Escala de Bienestar Subjetivo (EBS-20) y su versión corta (EBS-8) fueron desarrolladas y validadas para medir en población hispanohablante la satisfacción con la vida y el afecto positivo. El objetivo del presente estudio fue obtener evidencias adicionales de validez para la EBS-8. Para ello, se aplicó la escala en tres estudios sucesivos a un total de 2259 mexicanos de 12 a 81 años. Los resultados del primer estudio permitieron confirmar la estructura unifactorial (CMIN/DF = 2.336; CFI = .996; RMSEA = .047) y la adecuada confiabilidad de la escala (a = .958, co = .957); en el segundo se probó su invarianza de medición por sexo, grupo social y edad (A%2 p > .05, ACFI < .004, ARMSEA < .014); y en el tercer estudio se encontró, mediante la calibración de sus reactivos bajo la TRI, que la escala estima satisfactoriamente el constructo evaluado (a > 1.69; P1 entre -2.78 y -2.35). A partir de los índices psicométricos obtenidos, se concluye que la EBS-8 es un excelente instrumento breve construido en español para evaluar el bienestar subjetivo en adolescentes, jóvenes, adultos y adultos mayores.

Abstract The Subjective Well-Being Scale (EBS-20) and its short version (EBS-8) were developed and validated to measure life satisfaction and positive affect in a Spanish-speaking population. The aim of the present study was to obtain additional evidence of validity for the EBS-8. To this end, the scale was applied in three successive studies to a total of 2259 Mexicans aged 12 to 81 years. The results of the first study allowed us to confirm its unifactorial structure (CMIN/DF = 2.336; CFI = .996; RMSEA = .047) and its adequate reliability (a = .958, co = .957); in the second its measurement invariance by sex, social group and age was tested (A%2 p >. 05, ACFI < .004, ARMSEA < .014); and in the third study it was found, by calibrating its items under IRT, that the scale satisfactorily estimates the construct assessed (a > 1.69; b1 between -2.78 and -2.35). From the psychometric indices obtained, it is concluded that the EBS-8 is an excellent brief instrument constructed in Spanish to assess subjective well-being in adolescents, young people, adults and older adults.

The impacts of acquisition and extinction cues on ABC renewal of voluntary behaviors.

In two instrumental conditioning experiments with rats, we examined the impacts of acquisition and extinction cues on ABC renewal of instrumental behavior. Animals were reinforced with food for lever pressing in one context, followed by extinction of the response in a second one. Presentations of a brief tone accompanied extinction in Experiment 1 (extinction cue), and acquisition in Experiment 2 (acquisition cue). A final test in a third context revealed that instrumental responding was decreased in the presence of the extinction cue, whereas it was increased in the presence of the acquisition cue. We discuss theoretical and clinical implications of our results.