Dr Skinner Wants a Pigeon to Learn to Peck a Button

question 27

Multiple Choice

Dr. Skinner wants a pigeon to learn to peck a button in its cage. He first records how often the pigeon pecks the button. Then, after 3 days, he begins to give food to the pigeon every time it pecks the button. The pigeon's rate of pecking the button increases. After 3 days, he quits giving the pigeon food contingent on its pecking the button. The pigeon's rate of pecking the button decreases. After 3 more days, Dr. Skinner begins giving the pigeon food for pecking the button again, and its rate of pecking increases again. What kind of experimental design has Dr. Skinner used?

• A) Teaching Design
• B) Changing Conditions Design
• C) AB
• D) ABAB

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Definitions:

Thrombin

An enzyme in blood plasma that causes the clotting of blood by converting fibrinogen to fibrin.

Prothrombin

A protein present in blood plasma that is converted into active thrombin during coagulation, playing a key role in blood clot formation.

Fibrinogen

A soluble plasma protein that is converted to the insoluble protein fibrin during blood clotting.

Fibrin

A fibrous protein involved in the clotting of blood, formed from fibrinogen in response to injury.