In Tolman's maze study, the fact that the group of rats receiving reinforcement only after Day 10 of the study solved the maze far more quickly than did the rats who had been reinforced from the first day can be interpreted to mean that these particular rats __________.
A) had already learned the maze in the first 9 days
B) were much smarter than the other rats
C) had the opportunity to cheat by watching the other rats
D) were very hungry and, therefore, learned much more quickly

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The fact that the group of rats who only received reinforcement after Day 10 solved the maze more quickly suggests that they had already learned the maze in the first 9 days. This supports Tolman's theory of cognitive maps, which suggests that learning can occur even without reinforcement and that animals are able to form mental representations of their environment. It is unlikely that the rats were smarter or had the opportunity to cheat, and hunger alone does not necessarily lead to faster learning.

In Tolman's Maze Study, the Fact That the Group of Rats