Describe how the 'transfer tests with novel objects' were conducted on Alex the parrot during the study by Pepperberg (parrot learning).

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2019). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1] Alex was presented with pairs of objects that combined attributes never used in training;
2. [1] They also had not been used in any previous tests asking same/different;
3. [1] The objects may also have been 'totally' novel/never encountered before;
4. [1] These objects were kept on a shelf in view of Alex;
5. [1] Therefore, at least one of the pair of objects was unfamiliar to Alex;
6. [1] These could be colours/shapes he had no label for;
7. [1] He was then asked 'What's Same?'/'What's Different?'
8. [1] If he answered correctly he was praised or rewarded (kept object)/if incorrect the experimenter said 'no';