Abstract
Eighteen food-deprived pigeons were divided into three groups and either hand-shaped or autoshaped to peck a response key illuminated with red or green light. Group 1 was autoshaped using a procedure that employed a 30-sec intertrial interval (ITI); the other two groups were hand shaped by the method of successive approximations, one (Group 2) with a 30-sec ITI, the other (Group 3) without. In subsequent discrimination training, the subjects in Groups 1 and 2 emitted significantly fewer errors than those in Group 3. The role of the ITI was explained with reference to the Rescorla-Wagner model of associative learning, modified to account for stimulus generalization. Implications of the data for the study of errorless learning and the comparison between hand shaping and autoshaping are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Bilbrey, J., & Winokur, S. Controls for and constraints on auto-shaping. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1973, 20, 323–332.
Brown, P. L., & Jenkins, H. M. Autoshaping of the pigeon’s keypeck. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1968, 6, 1–27.
Gamzu, E. R., & Williams, D. R. Classical conditioning of a complex skeletal response. Science, 1971, 171, 923–925. (a)
Gamzu, E. R., & Williams, D. R. Comments on autoshaping. Science, 1971, 171, 752–753. (b)
Hearst, E., & Jenkins, H. M. Sign-tracking: The stimulus reinforcer relation and directed action. Austin, Tex: Psychonomic Society, 1974.
Jenkins, H. M. Effects of the stimulus-reinforcer relation on selected and unselected responses. In R. A. Hinde & J. S. Hinde (Eds.), Constraints on learning. New York: Academic Press, 1973. Pp. 189–203.
Moore, B. R. The role of directed Pavlovian reactions in simple instrumental learning in the pigeon. In R. A. Hinde & J. S. Hinde (Eds.), Constraints on learning. New York: Academic Press, 1973. Pp. 159–188.
Perkins, C. C, Beavers, W. O., Hancock, R. A., Hemmendinger, P. C., Hemmindinger, D., & Ricci, P. A. Some variables affecting rate of keypecking during response-independent procedures (autoshaping). Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1975, 24, 59–72.
Rescorla, R. A. Stimulus generalization: Some predictions from a model of Pavlovian conditioning. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Animal Behavior Processes, 1976, 2, 88–96.
Rescorla, R. A., & Wagner, A. R. A theory of Pavlovian conditioning: Variations in the effectiveness of reinforcement and nonreinforcement. In A. H. Black & W. F. Prokasy (Eds.), Classical conditioning II: Current theory and research. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1972. Pp.64–99.
Robinson, P. W., Foster, D. F., & Bridges, C. V. Errorless learning in newborn chicks. Animal Learning & Behavior, 1976, 4, 266–268.
Schwartz, B., & Williams, D. R. Two different kinds of keypeck in the pigeon: Some properties of responses maintained by negative and positive response-reinforcer contingencies. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1972, 18, 201–216.
Skinner, B. F. Technical comment on auto-shaping. Science, 1971, 173, 752.
Smith, S. G., Borgen, L. A., Davis, W. M., & Pace, H. B. Automatic magazine and bar-press training in the rat. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1971, 15, 197–198.
Terrace, H. S. Discrimination learning with and without “errors.” Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1963, 6, 1–27.
Terrace, H. S. By-products of discrimination learning. In G. H. Bowers (Ed.), The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory. New York: Academic Press, 1972. Pp. 195–265.
Wasserman, E. A., Franklin, S. R., & Hearst, E. Pavlovian appetitive contingencies and approach versus withdrawal to conditioned stimuli in pigeons. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1974, 86, 616–627.
Wilkie, D. M., & Ramer, D. G. Errorless discrimination established by differential autoshaping. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1974, 22, 333–340.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Foster, D.F., Miller, H.L. & Fleming, D.E. Autoshaping, hand-shaping, and errorless learning. Bull. Psychon. Soc. 11, 219–222 (1978). https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336813
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03336813