Their appearance as the result of accidental correlations with the presentation of the stimulus is unmistakable.
I have concluded that this article was very hard to understand. I had to re-read many sentences over and over again to understand the meaning. The sentences were structured poorly. This is important to the history of psychology because when reviewing older articles we have to keep in mind what the writer wanted use to know and interpret it in such way.
Whether there is any unconditioned [p. 172] behavior in the pigeon appropriate to a given effect upon the environment is under investigation.
Further research.
It is perhaps not quite correct to say that conditioned behavior has been set up without any previously determined contingency whatsoever. We have appealed to a uniform sequence of responses in the behavior of the pigeon to obtain an over-all net contingency. When we arrange a clock to present food every 15 sec., we are in effect basing our reinforcement upon a limited set of responses which frequently occur 15 sec. after reinforcement.
Discussion of the experiment as researchers would write now.
The experiment might be said to demonstrate a sort of superstition
This is interesting because the behaviors are being referred to as a superstition when the bird had been reinforced to do the behavior by giving if food.
extinguished and the periodic presentation of food then resumed, a different response was picked up.
The bird was conditioned again?
There is a smooth positive acceleration in rate as the bird returns to the rate of responding which prevailed when it was reinforced every min.
This is an explanation of the graph.
magazine
Different meaning? This paragraph all together was confusing. It added new ideas that have not yet been talked about in the article.
When the stepping response became strong, it was possible to obtain a mechanical record by putting the bird on a large tambour directly connected with a small tambour which made a delicate electric contact each time [p. 170] stepping took place. By watching the bird and listening to the sound of the recorder it was possible to confirm the fact that a fairly authentic record was being made. It was possible for the bird to hear the recorder at each step
An additional measure for behavior in response to what stimuli?
topography
Biological Definition?
Fifteen sec. is a very effective interval at the drive level indicated above. One min. is much less so. When a response has once been set up, however, the interval can be lengthened. In one case it was extended to two min., and a high rate of responding was maintained with no sign of weakening. In another case, many hours of responding were observed with an interval of one min. between reinforcements.
Further research to be done.
According to this interpretation the effective interval will depend upon the rate of conditioning and the rate of extinction, and will therefore vary with the drive and also presumably between species
Results of the experiment.
If the interval before the next presentation is not so great that extinction takes place, a second 'contingency' is probable. This strengthens the response still further and subsequent reinforcement becomes more probable
This statement explains how conditioning occurs.
we should expect that the shorter the intervening interval, the speedier and more marked the conditioning.
hypothesis
extinction
Over time the behavior no longer happens because it was not reinforced properly.
The sooner a second reinforcement appears, therefore, the more likely it is that the second reinforced response will be similar to the first, and also that they will both have one of a few standard forms.
Reasoning for the hypothesis based on observation.
it generally involved an orientation toward some feature of the cage
The pigeon probably thought that the feature of the cage is what was bringing the food.
counter-clockwise about the cage, making two or three turns between reinforcements. Another repeatedly thrust its head into one of the upper corners of the cage. A third developed a 'tossing' response, as if placing its head beneath an invisible bar and lifting it repeatedly. Two birds developed a pendulum motion of the head and body, in which the head was extended forward and swung from right to left with a sharp movement followed by a somewhat slower return. The body generally followed the movement and a few steps might be taken when it was extensive. Another bird was conditioned to make incomplete pecking or brushing movements directed toward but not touching the floor. None of these responses appeared in any noticeable strength during adaptation to the cage or until the food hopper was periodically presented.
Behaviors in which the bird performed after operant conditioning had occurred.
with no reference whatsoever to the bird's behavior, operant conditioning usually takes place
The birds behavior previous to the experiment or the after the first part of the experiment when food is taken then given?
A pigeon is brought to a stable state of hunger by reducing it to 75 percent of its weight when well fed. It is put into an experimental cage for a few minutes each day. A food hopper attached to the cage may be swung into place so that the pigeon can eat from it. A solenoid and a timing relay hold the hopper in place for five sec. at each reinforcement.
Experimental set-up.
reinforcement is contingent upon a response may mean nothing more than that it follows the response
Reinforcement Theory was coined by B.F. Skinner through operant conditioning when he studied rats. Opening statement to know what the article is going to be studied.
'SUPERSTITION' IN THE PIGEON
I chose this article because I am familiar with B.F. Skinner. I have learned about him in other psychology classes and thought it would be interesting to read about one of his early studies of behaviorism.
I also feel that this article is important to the history of psychology because of the difference in the structure of writing. Today's experimental journals and summaries have specific structures of writing that was not use in 1947 when this journal was written.