The rats could jump to either of two windows with sliding glass barriers, each containing food. The windows were embedded in a wall or partition several inches away. By varying the pattern of open and closed windows, the experimenters saw how well the rats learned increasingly complex patterns. But when they varied the open window randomly, the rats ultimately fixated on one window. Thereafter, if that window was closed all the time, and the other one was open all the time, the rat continued to jump to the same (closed) window. I would like to accurately cite this experiment, but can't find any reference to it online. Can anyone point me to one?
2007-09-14 05:42:50 · 3 answers · asked by nedbj 1 in Social Science ➔ Psychology
Since BF Skinner was a behaviorist and did experiments on rats, I would look at some reading on him.
2007-09-14 06:42:58 · answer #1 · answered by JESSICA G 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm thinking it sounds very much like a Watson or Thorndike experiment. However, I can't find it either. I'll keep looking, and update if i find anything.
2007-09-14 13:01:14 · answer #2 · answered by Aria T 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Sounds very much like the work by Lashley. See this page for explanation.
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Tolman/Maps/maps.htm
2007-09-14 13:19:31 · answer #3 · answered by jurydoc 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋