Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons^™

Spatial Orientation Of Children In Dyads With Female Adults, Susan Menig Karstetter

All Master's Theses

Subjects were requested to enter the experimental setting, choose a chair, and sit while speaking to an adult female who listened to the child for two minutes. The distance and angle of seating were measured and studied with regard to the age, sex, grade level, height, handedness, academic achievement, size of chair used, and the listener.

The results indicated that seating distance was influenced by the sex, age and height of the subject and size of chair chosen. The angle of seating chosen was influenced by the sex and height of the subject and the size of chair chosen. It …

The Role Of Memory In Rule Learning Problems, Alan S. Kertes

All Master's Theses

Thirty-six college subjects who had taken a memory test from the Wechsler series were chosen from an introductory psychology class and divided into three memory levels (high, medium, and low). Twelve subjects from each of the memory groups were required to categorized geometrical stimulus patterns into positive and negative instances according to an unknown conceptual rule that prescribed a relationship between two known attributes. Each subject was assigned to one of three postfeedback delay intervals of 1.5, 20, or 30 seconds. Performance among the three memory levels was not statistically different even though differences from best to worst were apparent …

The Role Of Postfeedback Intervals In Rule Learning Problems, Donald E. Lloyd

All Master's Theses

Subjects classified bidimensional stimulus patterns of variable colors and shapes into positive or negative instances of the concept, according to one of three conceptual rules (Disjunctive, Conditional, or Biconditional). Four postfeedback intertrial intervals were used: 1.5, 5, 20, or 30 seconds. Performance on the Dj rule was significantly higher than either the Cd or Bd rule and there was no reliable difference between the later two rules. The postfeedback delay was not a reliable source of variance among all rules, but did yield significant differences within the Bd rule. Inconsistent performance trends in the Cd and Bd rules as the …

Low Intensity Footshock Examined As A Possible Reinforcer For Sensory Deprived Rats, Ron J. Madesh

All Master's Theses

Two experiments were performed, first to test the footshock threshold for rats reared in the Central Washington State College rat colony and second to test for reinforcing effects of low level footshock for sensory deprived subjects. The threshold study consisted of an active avoidance situation with a low intensity footshock as the conditioned stimulus. Using the method of limits, thresholds were established (using 200k. ohms resistance in series) at 19.10 Vac and 22.60 Vac for sensory deprived and control subjects respectively. The second study tested for preference for footshock versus no footshock in an open shuttle box situation. No significant …

The Effects Of Extraneous Stimulation And Activity On Performance In A Recognition-Memory Task, Richard Armstrong

All Master's Theses

Reaction times of 36 subjects in a recognition-memory task were used to evaluate the effects of extraneous stimulation and activity upon memory processes. No significant effect of noise on RT was suggested. A linear increase in reaction time as a function of memory load was found in all noise conditions. When the recognition-memory task was accompanied by a simultaneous shadowing task, a significant difference in the positive and negative reaction times was suggested.

The Effects Of Experimental Manipulation Of Status On Signature Size, Karen Jensen Gillespie

All Master's Theses

This paper presents an attempt to change the size of a person's signature by changing his perceived status within the experimental situation.

Eight-four subjects were divided into four equal groups. Each group received two treatments, one of which was a status treatment, the other a success-failure manipulation. The results showed a significant difference in signature size between high and low status treatment groups. A significant variation was also noted between females in the success manipulation group and females in the failure manipulation group. The direction of this variation was opposite to predictions.

Recommendations included addition of a control group, presentation …

The Effect Of Environmental Enrichment On Delayed Alternation, Passive Avoidance And Exploration Behavior, David L. Knobel

All Master's Theses

Long Evans Hooded rats were reared in either perceptually complex (EC) or simple (IC) environments. As adults, exploration, delated alternation and passive avoidance task performance was investigated. The exploration level of the EC and IC reared groups was identical on Day 1, but on subsequent days the IC rats on delayed alternation and passive avoidance tasks was not found, but the alternation response was acquired with significantly fewer trials by EC rats.