Drive interaction: II. Experimental analysis of the role of drive in learning theory.

Abstract

The present expts. were designed to ascertain whether drive strength (D) was one of the variables determining habit strength (s H r) in Hull''s theoretical formulations. Different degrees of drive strength were obtained by varying the intensity of a co-existent non-rewarded thirst drive. In the 1st expt. 2 groups of animals learned a bar-depressing response under different drive strengths. During the measurement of learning (extinction trials) the animals were equated in terms of motivation. The results revealed that the different drive conditions at the time of learning did not influence the amount of habit growth. In the 2d expt. 2 groups of rats under different drive strengths reached the same criterion of 12 successive correct responses in a T-maze situation. The animals with the lower drive strength required more trials to attain this level of proficiency. In the relearning of the original spatial discrimination the drive strengths of the 2 groups of animals were equated. The group which, during the original learning had a lower drive strength, relearned more quickly. Presumably this was due to the greater number of reinforcements, this being one of the variables determining habit growth. Both exptl. findings are consistent with Hull''s formulation and support his omission of drive strength (D) as one of the variables determining habit growth (s H R).