Levels of Stimulus Processing by the Squirrel Monkey: Relative and Absolute Judgements Compared

Abstract

Nine squirrel monkeys were required to select from various sets of stimuli—differing in size or brightness—either in terms of relational criteria or on an absolute stimulus basis. The level of information processing required by each task was assessed by means of stimulus transformation techniques, variations in set size, and by the elimination of the visible context. It was found that some relational judgements make fewer processing demands on the subject than do absolute stimulus judgements; the ‘middle’ relation, however, appears much more difficult to use than selection of a stimulus on an absolute basis and may be beyond the competence of the squirrel monkey. The results are seen as support for the thesis as advanced by McGonigle and Jones that the criteria of judgement, when varied, change the depth of stimulus processing by monkey as well as man.