SOLUTION OF THE INTERMEDIATE SIZE PROBLEM BY PIGEONS

Abstract

Pigeons learned to respond to the middle-sized member (S(D)) of a set of three simultaneously presented stimuli with responses to the S(D) reinforced on a VI 1 schedule. They were then tested for several days with other sets of three stimuli. One procedure presented reinforcements on a VI 1 schedule during the test independent of the stimulus chosen when a reinforcement was programmed. The tests were also given under extinction conditions. With the testing carried out with extinction, preference consistently was for the test stimulus most similar in physical size to the S(D). However, when the tests were with reinforcement, random responding resulted. Another effect of testing with reinforcement was an increase in incorrect responding with the training set. Such a test procedure was unsatisfactory for determining the effective aspect of the S(D). The conclusion, based on the data of the extinction series, was that pigeons learned the intermediate size problem on the basis of the discrimination of absolute stimulus properties.