The other shoe: An early operant conditioning chamber for pigeons

Takayuki Sakagami, Kennon A. Lattal

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

We describe an early operant conditioning chamber fabricated by Harvard University instrument maker Ralph Gerbrands and shipped to Japan in 1952 in response to a request of Professor B. F. Skinner by Japanese psychologists. It is a rare example, perhaps the earliest still physically existing, of such a chamber for use with pigeons. Although the overall structure and many of the components are similar to contemporary pigeon chambers, several differences are noted and contrasted to evolutionary changes in this most important laboratory tool in the experimental analysis of behavior. The chamber also is testimony to the early internationalization of behavior analysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)25-39
Number of pages15
JournalBehavior Analyst
Volume39
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016 May 1

Keywords

  • B.F. Skinner
  • Early pigeon chamber
  • Japanese psychologists
  • Research apparatus
  • Technology and scientific change

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Social Psychology
  • Clinical Psychology

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