A pigeon was trained in a symbolic MTS procedure to peck a circle any time the sample is a square and to peck a vertical line any time the sample is a horizontal line. After several months of training, the pigeon is presented the circle as the sample stimulus for the first time. What are the researchers most likely testing?
A) Reflexivity
B) Transitivity
C) Symmetry
D) Tacting

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The researchers are most likely testing for symmetry, which in this context refers to whether the pigeon can reverse the learned association (e.g., if it has learned to peck a circle when shown a square, can it peck a square when shown a circle?). This tests the pigeon's ability to understand that the relationships between stimuli can be reversed, a concept related to symmetry in stimulus equivalence.

A Pigeon Was Trained in a Symbolic MTS Procedure to Peck