ERIC Number: EJ886963
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-May
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0022-5002
EISSN: N/A
Why Pigeons Say What They Do: Reinforcer Magnitude and Response Requirement Effects on Say Responding in Say-Do Correspondence
da Silva, Stephanie P.; Lattal, Kennon A.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, v93 n3 p395-413 May 2010
The effects of reinforcer magnitude and response requirement on pigeons' say choices in an experimental homologue of human say-do correspondence were assessed in two experiments. The procedure was similar to a conditional discrimination procedure except the pigeons chose both a sample stimulus (the say component) and a comparison stimulus that corresponded to it (the do component). Correspondence was trained on red, green, and white key colors before the duration of food presentations following correspondence on each key color (Experiment 1) and the number of key pecks required as the say response on each key color (Experiment 2) were manipulated in an attempt to influence the initial say response. The frequency of say responses on each key color coincided with programmed changes in the duration of food presentations and the key-peck requirements assigned to each key color. Correspondence accuracy remained stable in all conditions, even those in which the say responding occurred primarily on two of the three key colors. Implications for human behavior are discussed. (Contains 4 tables and 4 figures.)
Descriptors: Stimuli, Reinforcement, Animals, Animal Behavior, Color, Food, Visual Stimuli, Behavioral Science Research, Conditioning, Decision Making
Society for the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. Available from: Indiana University Department of Psychology. Bloomington, IN 47405-1301. Tel: 812-334-0395; FAX: 812-855-4691; e-mail: jeab@indiana.edu; Web site: http://seab.envmed.rochester.edu/jeab/index.html
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A