Master's Theses

Department

Psychology

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

This experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that as drive level increased, defined by hours of deprivation, activity level increased in each of the two goal boxes, and running speed in alley two increased. The results of the test of this hypothesis should also be greater for the subjects which received the frustration condition than for those which received the reward condition in the post-shift treatment. Twenty-four female albino rats were trained under hunger deprivation to traverse an alley into a goal box, then to leave the goal box and to traverse a second alley into a second goal box. Running speed in alley one and alley two was measured as was activity in goal box one and goal box two. After four days of familiarization training, the actual experiment was begun, in which all subjects received reward in both goal boxes. After five days of 100 percent reward, the post-shift condition was begun, in which half of the subjects for each of the three drive conditions received 50 percent reward in goal box one and 100 percent reward in goal box two, termed the frustration condition. The remaining subjects received 100 percent reward in both goal boxes, termed the reward condition. The statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in running speed in alley two in comparison to that of alley one. The three drive levels, and the reward-frustration condition, were not independent of the running speeds in alley one and alley two. The analysis for activity in the goal boxes was not independent of the three drive levels, and the reward - frustration condition. There also appeared to be wide variance across trials.

Keywords

Rats, Rodents, Experimenting, Training, Psychology, Rewards & prizes, Frustration

Advisor

Irving L. Rawlings

Date of Award

Spring 1969

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Rights

© The Author(s)

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