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Preference for free or forced choice in Sumatran orangutans (Pongo abelii)
Sarah E Ritvo1, Suzanne E MacDonald1
1York University.
Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
|February 27, 2020
Summary
Great apes, specifically orangutans, show a preference for free choice over forced choice, though this tendency may be weaker than in other species. Further research is recommended to explore choice-making behaviors in great apes.
Area of Science:
- Comparative psychology
- Primatology
- Animal behavior
Background:
- Previous studies show humans and other animals prefer free choice over forced choice, even with equal outcomes.
- This preference has not been quantitatively confirmed in nonhuman great apes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically investigate the preference for free versus forced choice in great apes.
- To control for extraneous variables in assessing choice behavior.
Main Methods:
- Three orangutans participated in a touchscreen computer experiment.
- Participants chose between two virtual routes: one offering choice, one without.
- Both routes yielded identical food rewards.
Main Results:
- Initial results showed all three orangutans preferred the free choice option.
- Control conditions revealed varied preferences, indicating a weaker choice tendency than in previously studied species.
Conclusions:
- Orangutans exhibit a preference for free choice, but this tendency is less pronounced than in other species.
- Further investigation using alternative experimental paradigms is suggested to better understand choice behavior in great apes.
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