See: Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior 2004, 82, 317-328 Number 3 (November) Gail B. Peterson A DAY OF GREAT ILLUMINATION: B. F. SKINNER’S DISCOVERY OF SHAPING
for a description of how Skinner discovered pigeons as an experimental organism. Basically, he was up in his office in an old flour mill in Minneapolis when he saw some pigeons on a window sill, grabbed one, and observed its spatial orientation while in his hands. 'Pigeon in a Pelican' followed shortly. On Jan 15, 2014, at 10:37 AM, Christopher Green wrote: > I don't think Skinner needed to train pigeons to fly places. People have been > using pigeons for that exact purpose for thousands (yes, thousands) of years. > Indeed, one might regard Skinner's entire research program as little more > than a codification and extension of the centuries-long practice of training > pigeons to fly to specific places using food as a lure. > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrier_pigeon > > Chris > --- > Christopher D. Green > Department of Psychology > York University > Toronto, ON M3J 1P3 > Canada > > [email protected] > http://www.yorku.ca/christo/ > ========================= > > On 2014-01-15, at 10:09 AM, Paul Brandon wrote: > >> >> And (at least as of ten years ago) I knew people using 'air cribs' (the >> climate controlled crib described in 'Baby in a Box'). >> There was also a project using pigeons as quality control inspectors (pills, >> I believe). >> >> On Jan 15, 2014, at 8:03 AM, John Kulig wrote: >> >>> Well, Skinner's pigeons did not fly by themselves, but they were trained to >>> peck at outlines of ships so as to guide missiles to their target during >>> WWII ... the military did not support "Project Pigeon" wholeheartedly >>> though Skinner claimed it would have worked. Each nose cone had three >>> pigeons, and majority vote ruled (in case one pigeon got >>> nervous-in-the-service to use theold phrase). The project was cancelled in >>> 1944, but inspired Project Orcon (for organic control) which was later >>> replaced by electronic guidance systems. >>> >>> If people have not read Skinner's account of this project, it is worth the >>> trouble. He is intelligent, witty, irreverent, and insightful. A contrast >>> to our tendency to be overly cautious in our hypotheses and conclusions. >>> btw, worth reading about his daughter's crib project as well >>> >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Project_Pigeon >>> >>> >>> >>> ========================== >>> John W. Kulig, Ph.D. >>> Professor of Psychology >>> Coordinator, Psychology Honors >>> Plymouth State University >>> Plymouth NH 03264 >>> ========================== Paul Brandon Emeritus Professor of Psychology Minnesota State University, Mankato [email protected] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. To unsubscribe click here: http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df5d5&n=T&l=tips&o=32763 or send a blank email to leave-32763-13090.68da6e6e5325aa33287ff385b70df...@fsulist.frostburg.edu
