Interpretation(s) of essential value in operant demand

Shawn P. Gilroy

Louisiana State University

Abstract

The operant demand framework has achieved high levels of adoption as an approach to quantify how various ecological factors influence choice and consumption. A central goal of the framework proposed by Hursh and Silberburg (2008) was to isolate the “essential value” of reinforcers; namely, their effects on behavior, given various contextual factors. The effect of reinforcers on behavior is a phenomenon that is expected to vary as a function of dosage (i.e., units of reinforcement), price (i.e., schedule requirements), the intensity of demand (i.e., baseline consumption), the availability of reinforcers (i.e., supply, presence of alternatives), and the individual’s current and historical context. This technical report provides a historical summary of the concept, describes the quantitative basis for essential value in the framework of Hursh and Silberburg (2008), reviews prior attempts to approximate a generalizable index of essential value, and presents a newer formulation using exact solution to provide a more succinct and durable index. Proofs and solutions are provided to clarify the bases for novel and existing representations of essential value. Recommendations are provided to improve the precision and accuracy of behavioral economic metrics as well as support consensus regarding their interpretation in the operant demand framework.

Keywords: operant demand, behavioral economics, essential value, elasticity

Figure 1: Drug-level Estimates for Power Function

Figure 2: Normalized Essential Value Estimates

Figure 3: Approximated vs. Exact Solutions**

Figure 4: Comparisons of Power Function to Omega Function

Figure 5: Normalized Essential Value and Unit Elasticity

Figure 6: Rank Ordering of Essential Value across Methods