Stimulus Size and the Measurement of Imprinting

Abstract

Connolly and Moray's (1964) method for calculating the expected chance level of following in birds in the laboratory imprinting situation was shown to vary as a function of the size of the imprinting stimulus. A modification of the original formula was proposed to take into account these size differences. Data from a study on size preferences during imprinting were included to demonstrate the significant influence of following by chance.