Rudolf the Rat is exposed to two fixed ratio 5 schedules. The light (learned reinforcer) is contingent on Rudolf's 5th spin. The light then functions as a discriminative stimulus in the presence of which the 5th full, two-paw lever press will be reinforced with the dipper click (learned reinforcer), "luring" Rudolf to enjoy the sweet taste of water that has been paired with the dipper click since Day 1. After Rudolf licks his tail and sniffs the ceiling, responding resumes in the Skinner box, where life is simple yet analogous to the complex human behavior we see in everyday life.

This original experiment was created and implemented by Brendon Farrel in Dr. Richard Malott's PSY1000 honors class at Western Michigan University. Matt Brodhead was the graduate student instructor for this course.