Summary of Gardner-Gardner Study teaching chimps sign language.

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Summary of Gardner-Gardner Study The main objective behind the Gardner-Gardner study was to demonstrate and to test their hypothesis on whether the chimpanzees did possess the aptitude and potential to communicate in a manner similar to human language. The Gardners decided to use American Sign Language, which was structurally equivalent to spoken language, as the earlier attempts with the spoken form of language failed due to the chimp’s inept vocal apparatus, which accounted for its disability for making speech sounds. Also despite the chimp’s ineptitude to vocalize like humans, the Gardners were aware that chimpanzees do possess a natural dexterity to easily develop hand
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gestures. ASL also provided the advantage of conducting comparisons with deaf children and chimps. Chimpanzees, in addition, were an ideal choice as they were intelligent, sociable, and capable of strong attachments to humans. However, it was later recognized that their great strength was also a cause of serious hindrance. In June 1966, the Gardners then brought Washoe , a wild caught infant of 8-14 months, incase there was a critical early stage at which such behaviour is acquired, to the laboratory and began to master their knowledge of ASL into her through imitation operant conditioning, in which they simply reinforced ...

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