Savage-Rumbaugh

Question 0

What were the independent variables in Savage-Rumbaugh’s experiment?

Answer 0

• Pygmy or common chip - making the experiment quasi

* formally or informally taught to communicate, taught by a human, or child watches mother

Question 1

What was the aim in Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 1

Compare acquisition of language by Pygmy chimps in relation to common chimps, and in the absence of formal teaching

Question 2

What was the design in Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 2

Case study, longitudinal design

Question 3

What was the procedure in Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 3

Chimps communicated using a keyboard of symbols connected to a speak synthesiser, when outside they pointed at laminated symbols on a keyboard, they were also exposed to spoken words and over 100 American Sign Language gestures. Data recording made a complete record of Kanzi’s and Mulika’s utterances for 17 months using an automatic computerised record from the keyboard, notes from observers and 4.5 hours of videotape. Chimps were also tested on recognition of spoken English words

Question 4

What were the results of Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 4

• Utterances were categorised (correct/incorrect, spontaneous/imitated)
• Kanzi produced 2540 correct combinations of symbols e.g. ‘Chase Kanzi’
• Over 80% of Kanzi’s single word utterances were spontaneous, 11% were prompted/imitated

The Pygmy chimps were compared to two common chimps (Sherman and Austin)
• Pygmy chimps learnt more easily and made spontaneous associations between lexigrams and objects, common chimps could not.
• Pygmy chimps understanding of spoken language was not context dependant, common chips needed contextual information

Question 5

What conclusions were made from Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 5

• Study reports for the first instance of spontaneous language acquisition by apes where they have required symbols without specific training
• First documented account of spoken English word comprehension by apes
• Compared to common chimps Pygmy chimps appear to be able to learn and use language more like human child

Question 6

What is a lexigram board?

Answer 6

A visual symbol system where pictures represent words. A voice synthesiser was used so when Kanzi pressed a key the corresponding English word would be announced

Question 7

What ethical issues are there in Savage-Rumbaugh’s study?

Answer 7

+ 55 acres of woods was used and chimps were accompanied and fed well

• forced into unnatural development could be considered as causing harm
• chimps as animals could not give consent, could not be debriefed, did not have a right to withdraw

Question 8

What participants were used in Savage-Rumbaugh’s

Answer 8

Pygmy chimps:
• Kanzi (principle subject), male, b. 1980
• Mulika, female, b. 1983
Common chimps:
• Sherman
• Austin