Abstract
Previous studies have shown that pigeons could learn a serial list of colors and to select each color in the proper order when presented with an array of colors. Errors of jumping forward in the required sequence (forward errors) were most probable, with jumps backward in the required sequence (backward errors) being relatively improbable. One proposed explanation for the higher probability of forward errors suggests that the pigeon pecks at the correct stimulus without activating the response switch and then pecks the next stimulus in the sequence closing the response switch. This “inadequate-peck” hypothesis suggests that forward errors are due to weak stimulus control and that increased feedback for correct pecks should therefore reduce forward error probability relative to a low-feedback condition. The present study compared responding under conditions of high and no experimenter-provided feedback for correct pecks. As the feedback did not affect the probability of forward errors, the inadequate-peck hypothesis was not supported. A short-term memory explanation is consistent with the data.
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References
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This study was based on a thesis submitted by the second author to the Department of Psychology, Georgia State University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the MA degree.
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Richardson, W.K., Bittner, B.J. Stimulus stringing by pigeons: Effect of feedback for correct selections. Animal Learning & Behavior 10, 35–38 (1982). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212043
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03212043