Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Psychology
Faculty/School
Faculty of Science
First Advisor
Vernon Schaefer
Advisor Role
Thesis Supervisor
Abstract
Thirty-six naive female hooded rats were divided randomly into three groups and tested in an instrumental escape and avoidance learning situation involving three degrees of task difficulty. Each group was also randomly subdivided into four subgroups, each of which underwent a different shock intensity level. The purpose of this study was to test the Yorkes-Dodson law which states that (a) there is an optimal level of punishment intensity for any given task (or an inverted-U curve relating shock intensity and performance) and (b) this optimal intensity decreases as task difficulty increases. The results supported (a) but not (b).
Recommended Citation
Louis, Arthur, "Shock Intensity and Task Difficulty as Determiners of Avoidance and Escape Learning in Rats" (1971). Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive). 1538.
https://scholars.wlu.ca/etd/1538
Convocation Year
1971
Convocation Season
Fall