142 



VINNIE C. HICKS 



of its interpretation and its value relative to that of the distance 

 curve. Such a curve will represent grossly the elimination of 

 certain distances. 



Time varies directly to a great extent with distance, and hence 

 it represents to some extent the same factors of the learning 

 process as does error or distance. However, it has often beeu 

 noted that time and distance also vary independently of each 

 other. This fact is so patent that illustrations are unnecessary. 

 We wish at this time merely to emphasize the point that this 

 fact of the independent variability of time and distance is at 



ENTRANCE 

 Figure 1 — Path followed by rat No. 2 in its fourth trial, April 26, 2 p. m. 

 Time, 4 minutes, 2 seconds. 



the basis of the whole problem of the relative value of those 

 tw^o criteria, and it is our purpose before proceeding further 

 with the discussion to ascertain by experimental means the 

 exact extent to which these tw^o factors do vary. 



Seventeen white rats in three groups were given a total of 591 

 runs in a Hampton Court maze. They were run daily by the 

 same person at approximately the same time of the day. Hun- 

 ger was used as a motive, and an attempt was made to secure 

 uniform conditions by allowing the animals to eat for a definite 



