EMPIRICAL DETERMINATION OF APPROACH GRADIENT BY STRENGTH-OF-PULL METHOD AN EXAMINATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMITH'S DATA AND MINE

TAMOTSU SOMIYA

doi:10.4992/psycholres1954.2.135

EMPIRICAL DETERMINATION OF APPROACH GRADIENT BY STRENGTH-OF-PULL METHOD

AN EXAMINATION OF THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SMITH'S DATA AND MINE

TAMOTSU SOMIYA

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JOURNAL FREE ACCESS

1960 Volume 2 Issue 4 Pages 135-141

DOI https://doi.org/10.4992/psycholres1954.2.135

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Published: 1960 Received: September 28, 1960 Available on J-STAGE: February 24, 2009 Accepted: - Advance online publication: - Revised: -
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Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: ABSTRACT Details: Wrong : Recently Smith and the writer have found the data for determining the precise shape of the approach gradient under the same situation which measures the strength of the approach tendency by the strength-of-pull method. However, the results ob-tained by the two are not identical. That is, Smith's gradient is a slightly S-shaped gradient, but mine is a negative growth gradient. The present writer has intended to make the causes of such discrepancy clear in the present paper.
It has been made clear that Brown's pull-situation used by Smith, under which the animals are placed in the alley at the extreme right end and allowed to run to food at the left end, is not fit for determin-ing the exact function between the dis-tance of the organism from the goal and the approach gradient. Because it has been definitely shown by the empirical evidence that not only the effect of the goal, but also those of the running speed and of the starting point act on the strength of pull. For these reasons the writer has devised the following three methods for controlling the effects of the factors un-related to the effect of the goal.
(1) The pulling time was prolonged from 5 sec. to 10 sec. and then the amount of force exerted for the first half was ex-cluded from the total amount of force because it was suggested that the effects of the factors in question would be especially remarkable in the beginning of pull.
(2) The distance between a pull test and the starting point was held constant because it was made clear that not only the distance from the goal, but also that from the starting point had influence on an animal running from the starting point to the goal.
(3) The starting point was removed from the pull-situation. It is probable that this method is one of the optimal ones for measuring only the effect of the goal.
Thus we can have obtained the precise shape of the approach gradient. It is a negative growth function of the distance of the organism from the goal.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : BROWN, J. S. Gradients of approach and avoid-ance responses and their relation to level of motivation. J. camp. physiol. Psychol., 1948, 41, 450-465.
HULL, C. L. A behavior system. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1952.
JENKINS, W. O. Studies in spread of effect. The bi-directional gradient in the performance of the white rats on a linea maze. J. comp. Psychol., 1943, 35, 41-56.
MILLER, N. E. Experimental studies in conflict. In Hunt, J. McV (Ed), Personality and the behavior disorders. New York : Ronald Press, 1944.
MORI, T., & KAJIKAWA, M. The effect of position in a linea maze upon discrimination-learning in the white rats. Ann. anim. Psychol., Tokyo, 1956, 6, 41-48.
SMITH, N. An empirical determination of an approach gradient. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1960, 53, 63-67.
SOMIYA, T. Adient reaction potential and abient reaction potential as a function of the distance from the object (1). Jap. J. Psychol. 1960, 31, 26-34.

Right : BROWN, J. S. Gradients of approach and avoidance responses and their relation to level of motivation., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1948, 41, 450-465.
HULL, C. L. A behavior system. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1952.
JENKINS, W. O. Studies in spread of effect. The bi-directional gradient in the performance of the white rats on a linea maze. J. comp. Psychol., 1943, 35, 41-56.
MILLER, N. E. Experimental studies in conflict. In Hunt, J. McV (Ed), Personality and the behavior disorders. New York: Ronald Press, 1944.
MORI, T., & KAJIKAWA, M. The effect of position in a linea maze upon discrimination-learning in the white rats. Ann. anim. Psychol., Tokyo, 1956, 6, 41-48.
SMITH, N. An empirical determination of an approach gradient. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1960, 53, 63-67.
SOMYA, T. Adient reaction potential and abicnt reaction potential as a function of the distance from the object (1). Jap. J. Psychol., 1960, 31, 26-34.

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: PDF FILE Details: -

Date of correction: February 24, 2009 Reason for correction: - Correction: CITATION Details: Wrong : BROWN, J. S. Gradients of approach and avoidance responses and their relation to level of motivation., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1948, 41, 450-465.
HULL, C. L. A behavior system. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1952.
JENKINS, W. O. Studies in spread of effect. The bi-directional gradient in the performance of the white rats on a linea maze. J. comp. Psychol., 1943, 35, 41-56.
MILLER, N. E. Experimental studies in conflict. In Hunt, J. McV (Ed), Personality and the behavior disorders. New York: Ronald Press, 1944.
MORI, T., & KAJIKAWA, M. The effect of position in a linea maze upon discrimination-learning in the white rats. Ann. anim. Psychol., Tokyo, 1956, 6, 41-48.
SMITH, N. An empirical determination of an approach gradient. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1960, 53, 63-67.
SOMYA, T. Adient reaction potential and abicnt reaction potential as a function of the distance from the object (1). Jap. J. Psychol., 1960, 31, 26-34.

Right : BROWN, J. S. Gradients of approach and avoidance responses and their relation to level of motivation., J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1948, 41, 450-465.
HULL, C. L. A behavior system. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1952.
JENKINS, W. O. Studies in spread of effect. The bi-directional gradient in the performance of the white rats on a linea maze. J. comp. Psychol., 1943, 35, 41-56.
MILLER, N. E. Experimental studies in conflict. In Hunt, J. McV (Ed), Personality and the behavior disorders. New York: Ronald Press, 1944.
MORI, T., & KAJIKAWA, M. The effect of position in a linea maze upon discrimination-learning in the white rats. Ann. anim. Psychol., Tokyo, 1956, 6, 41-48.
SMITH, N. An empirical determination of an approach gradient. J. comp. physiol. Psychol., 1960, 53, 63-67.
SOMIYA, T. Adient reaction potential and abient reaction potential as a function of the distance from the object (1). Jap. J. Psychol., 1960, 31, 26-34.

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