Robert Johnston (1993) tested whether or not an observer hamster could distinguish between two other hamsters, hamster A and hamster B. He used the __________ tests to measure this ability.
A) pheromone identification
B) preferential pheromone
C) habituation/dishabituation
D) pheromone discrimination

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The habituation/dishabituation test is commonly used to measure an observer animal's ability to distinguish between two other animals. In this test, the observer animal is habituated to the presence of one of the animals (hamster A), and then presented with a novel animal (hamster B). If the observer animal shows increased interest in the novel animal, it indicates that they have recognized a difference between the two animals. This test does not specifically rely on pheromones, although they may play a role in the animals' ability to distinguish between each other.

Robert Johnston (1993) Tested Whether or Not an Observer Hamster