As odd as it is for me send something to the list that doesn't pertain
to dismembered corpses...
Each semester I do a classical conditioning demo in my classes. I
condition my students to salivate when I say "Pavlov" (because I can
never remember to get a bell) by putting lemonade powder on their
tongues.
Someone on this list -- per usual, I can't remember who (sorry!) -- made
the suggestion of using pixie stix. Of course I thought that was a
*wonderful* idea (especially since it meant I could get rid of putting
lemon flavored koolaid in dixie cups).
I generally do 20 acquisition trials when I do the demo. My question is
for those who use the pixie stix... how many acquisition trials can you
get out of one pixie stick?
<Warning: Digression ahead!>
How many licks does it take to get to the tootsie roll center of a
tootsie pop? Which, of course, is an empirical question. What an idea
for a methods class! There could be discussion of lack of experimental
control if participants were allowed to lick the tootsie pop however
they want -- if some just licked one side, they would get to the center
faster. You'd have to throw out subjects who bit into it. How do you
operationally define a "lick"? -- Sheesh! It must be *early*. This has
all the earmarks of a "3 a.m. idea" -- it sounds good now, but once I
come fully awake I know it's going to sound ridiculous.
--
Sue Frantz [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Faculty Office Bldg, 2400 Scenic Drive Office: (505)439-3752
New Mexico State Univ. - Alamogordo Fax: (505)439-3802
Alamogordo, NM 88310 USA http://web.nmsu.edu/~sfrantz
