Numerical ability of rabbits data
Description
Thirteen rabbits at The College of West Anglia, Cambridge were tested on their numerical abilities by the use of the spontaneous choice test. The first experiment explores if there is a difference between the number of times rabbits choose the larger quantity of food between 0 vs 1 pieces of carrot, 1 vs 2 pieces of carrot, 1 vs 3 pieces of carrot, 3 vs 4 pieces of carrot, 4 vs 7 pieces of carrot, and 6 vs 7 pieces of carrot. The second experiment asks if there is a difference between the number of times the rabbits choose the large food item vs the number of times that they choose the small food item. The third experiment tests if there is a difference between the number of times the rabbits choose the four large food items vs the number of times that they choose the 16 smaller food items when both options equate to equal overall amounts. The conditions were divided into two groups based on the ratio between the two quantities (the smaller number divided by the second number). The small ratio group with a ratio of ≤0.5 consisted of 0 vs 1 (0), 1 vs 3 (0.33), and 1 vs 2 (0.5). The large ratio group with a ratio of >0.5 consisted of 4 vs 7 (0.57), 3 vs 4 (0.75), and 6 vs 7 (0.86). Experiment 1: • Condition 1: 0 v 1 pieces of carrot (4cm3) • Condition 2: 1 vs 2 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3) • Condition 3: 1 vs 3 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3) • Condition 4: 3 vs 4 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3) • Condition 5: 4 vs 7 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3) • Condition 6: 6 vs 7 pieces of carrot (all 4cm3) The experimenter cut up carrots into the quantities and volumes listed above. For each condition, they approached the first plate and dropped one of the quantities onto it sequentially from 4cm above the plate whilst the rabbit was watching. They then approached the second plate and dropped the remaining quantity of carrots from that condition onto it sequentially, from 4cm above the plate. The rabbit approached a plate and ate the contents, with the remaining plate being taken away. Each rabbit participated in every condition once, with one trial per rabbit per session, unless the rabbit appeared unmotivated or uninterested, then the trial was not included and was repeated during the next session when possible. This was repeated for all six conditions. Experiment 2: The same procedure outlined above was used, but with the two food choices being a whole 6cm3 baton carrot, and a 1.5cm3 (quarter) baton carrot. Therefore, one plate had a whole 6cm3 baton, and one plate had ¼ of that. Each rabbit participated in this two times, on two separate occasions Experiment 3: The same procedure as experiment 1 was used, but with the two food choices being four pieces of 4cm3 carrot, and 16 pieces of 1cm3 carrot, spending 10 seconds at each plate. Each rabbit participated in this two times, on two separate occasions.