NEED FOR ANALYTICAL STUDY OF MAZE PROBLEM 183 



and X are equal in the long run when the animal is in the position A. 

 If the animal goes into B the true pathway scores one in frequency as 

 over against the cul-de-sac. If the animal goes into the cul-de-sac X 

 and follows it out to the bitter end it must return. When it reaches 

 the position of the letter X on the return again the chances of entering 

 B and A are equal. We thus see that there is a greater probability of 

 the animal's remaining on the true pathway than of his leaving it. 

 Possibly the case can be more definitely presented if we ask for the 

 probability that the animal takes the wrong path. In order that this 

 may occur it must (1) choose the wrong path from A to X and (2) 

 choose the wrong path from X to A. The probability of each wrong 

 choice is J ; the probability that both wrong choices be made is i x J 

 = J. The complementary probability or the probability that it 

 takes the right path is J; i.e., the chances are three to one that the 

 animal goes out through B rather than comes back to the starting point. 

 This factor (frequency) alone is probably sufficient to account for the 

 formation of the maze habit (pp. 266-268). 



Now, doubt as to some of the quantitative relations assumed 

 arose' with the readers. We were not concerned with Watson's 

 underlying thesis but with some details of the presentation. 

 Is the probability of an animal's passing into a straight-ahead 

 pathway the same as that of its turning into one at the side? 

 Again, upon its exit from a blind alley is it as likely to re-enter 

 the old path as to enter upon the new one? Finally, does the 

 position of this blind alley with reference to the true path affect 

 the direction taken upon exit from it? 



To get some definite data upon these points, as little compli- 

 cated with other data as possible, the class adopted the fol- 

 lowing procedure. With a multiple unit or "takedown" system 

 of construction 1 ten maze patterns were arranged, as simple as 

 possible, each pattern containing the essentials of the problem, 

 namely, a blind alley on the right and one on the left of the true 

 path and a blind alley straight ahead or forward (R, L, and F, 



respectively) . They are shown in figure 2. 



i 



1 For description, see R H. Stetson and J. F Dashiell. A Multiple Unit System 

 of Maze Construction. Psychological Bulletin, July, 1919, 16, 223-230. 



