Problem-Solving Assembly of Separately Acquired Behavior Segments: Negative Results

Abstract

The experimental design was a modification of Hull's reasoning paradigm. Ss were given one forced trial per day in each of four runway segments. The trials to food, routes A-C and B-C, always preceded those to water, routes A-B and A-D. After 20 days of training under 22-hr. food and water deprivation Ss were placed under a “pure” hunger drive and given free choices between the A-B and A-D segments. The results required acceptance of the null hypothesis and thus failed to support the experimental hypothesis that rats are capable of the problem-solving assembly of separately acquired behavior segments.