The Generality of the Autoshaped Response

The problem. To determine if autoshaping is restricted to responses which are biologically preorganized, or if a response which is not overlearned or pre-organized, but is elicited by an appetitive stimulus (grain), can be autoshaped. Procedure. The autoshaped responses of two debeaked pigeons which had developed modified eating responses were compared to responses made by three control subjects which contacted grain normally. Findings. The control subjects exhibited normal keylight responding almost exclusively. The experimental pigeons contacted the key with a percentage of normal and modified responding similar to that directed to grain, though the modified responses were less extreme. Conclusion. The results of this study demonstrate that a component of the modified eating response is directed to a keylight which is paired with grain availability. Recommendations. Further experimentation in this area is necessary before all the variables which control the form of the autoshaped response can be determined.

Grantor dc:publisher

Drake University

Year dc:date.issued

1978

Author dc:creator

• Premock, Mark

• Autoshaping (Psychology)
• Conditioned response
• Behavior modification
• Pigeons--Feedins and feeds

Language dc:language.iso

en_US

Dc Identifier Other

1978 .P917

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:escholarshare.drake.edu:2092/901