Date of Award
8-1981
Degree Name
Master of Arts
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Dr. Alan D. Poling
Second Advisor
Dr. R. Wayne Fuqua
Third Advisor
Dr. Arthur Snapper
Access Setting
Masters Thesis-Open Access
Abstract
Previous investigations have shown that rate, latency, and percentage of trials with at least one response are somewhat insensitive measures of the strength of autoshaped responding. In two experiments, nine pigeons were exposed to an autoshaping procedure in which the successive presentation of three stimuli were followed by food on either 100%, 50%, or 0% of the trials. Choice testing involved the simultaneous presentation of the three stimuli. In Experiment I, all pigeons consistently directed their initial choice responses and the majority of subsequent responses to the stimulus always followed by food. In Experiment II, rate, latency, and percentage of trials with at least one response did not change appreciable as a function of duration of feeder presentations. However, choice responding was lawfully affected by duration of feeder presentations. These data suggest that choice is perhaps a more sensitive measure of the strength of autoshaped responding.
Recommended Citation
Picker, Mitchell Jon, "Choice as a Dependent Measure in Autoshaping: Sensitivity to Frequency and Duration of Food Presentation" (1981). Masters Theses. 1809.
https://scholarworks.wmich.edu/masters_theses/1809