Research Commons
      • Browse 
        • Communities & Collections
        • Titles
        • Authors
        • By Issue Date
        • Subjects
        • Types
        • Series
      • Help 
        • About
        • Collection Policy
        • OA Mandate Guidelines
        • Guidelines FAQ
        • Contact Us
      • My Account 
        • Sign In
        • Register
      View Item 
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      •   Research Commons
      • University of Waikato Theses
      • Masters Degree Theses
      • View Item
      JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

      A Test of Weber's Law with Dogs

      Cliff, Jessica Helen
      Thumbnail
      Files
      thesis.pdf
      3.013Mb
      Citation
      Export citation
      Cliff, J. H. (2013). A Test of Weber’s Law with Dogs (Thesis, Master of Applied Psychology (MAppPsy)). University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8646
      Permanent Research Commons link: https://hdl.handle.net/10289/8646
      Abstract
      This study investigated Weber’s Law through a temporal bisection procedure using domestic dogs as subjects, a previously untested species in temporal bisections. Six dogs were trained to response to the blue lever when the short signal duration was presented, and response to the red lever when the long signal duration was presented. The four conditions were 0.5 – 2.0 s, 1.0 – 4.0 s, 2.0 – 8.0 s and 4.0 – 16.0 s. The intermediate durations presented were logarithmic intervals of the two original signal durations. On each trial there were 7 possible durations for the green light, the two trained durations and the 5 intermediate logarithmic durations between them. Reinforcement was provided for correct responses to trained durations through out training and testing, no reinforcement was given for intermediate durations.

      This study demonstrated the PSE was close to the geometric mean and a failure of Weber’s Law. Weber fractions were not constant and instead produced a U-shaped function. Starting large for the shortest condition, (0.5 – 2.0 s), getting smaller for the middle two conditions (1.0 – 4.0 s & 2.0 – 8.0 s) and increased again for the longest condition (4.0 – 16.0 s). Results demonstrated that subjects found discriminating between durations within the 0.5 – 2.0 s condition the hardest. These results replicate the findings of Church and Deluty (1977) where the PSE was also close to the geometric mean, as well as Bizo et al. (2006) and Zeiler (1991) who were both able to demonstrate a failure of Weber’s Law.
      Date
      2013
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Name
      Master of Applied Psychology (MAppPsy)
      Supervisors
      Bizo, Lewis A.
      McEwan, James S.A.
      Publisher
      University of Waikato
      Rights
      All items in Research Commons are provided for private study and research purposes and are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated.
      Collections
      • Masters Degree Theses [2381]
      Show full item record  

      Usage

      Downloads, last 12 months
      26
       
       

      Usage Statistics

      For this itemFor all of Research Commons

      The University of Waikato - Te Whare Wānanga o WaikatoFeedback and RequestsCopyright and Legal Statement