dolphin training

Question 1

why are dolphins trained

Answer 1

physical stimulation, mental stimulation, medical/husbandry applications, education and research applications

Question 2

what is the dolphin in terms of operant conditioning

Answer 2

the “operator,” an active participant who exhibits a behavior which then the trainer responds

Question 3

the consequences following a behavior directly influence ________

Answer 3

the frequency with which the behavior will be repeated

Question 4

the trainer’s response to the dolphin’s behavior will either ________

Answer 4

increase or decrease the likelihood that the given behavior will reoccur

Question 5

which method is most likely to encourage a particular behavior

Answer 5

positive reinforcement

Question 6

what are the terms used for commands given to dolphins

Answer 6

behaviors

Question 7

why is the term trick not used in dolphin behavior training

Answer 7

tricks implies amusement or illusions.

Question 8

types of reinforcement

Answer 8

positive, negative, and nonreinforcement

Question 9

what consequences do positive and negative reinforcement provide

Answer 9

positive consequences in different ways

Question 10

what does positive reinforcement provide as consequence of the behavior

Answer 10

provides something dolphins enjoy/desire (positive stimulus)

Question 11

what is primary reinforcement

Answer 11

something inherently positive that requires no learning experiences to be associated as positive

Question 12

what is the main form of primary reinforcement for dolphin training

Answer 12

fish

Question 13

what is secondary reinforcement

Answer 13

something that acquires its positive effects through learning experiences

Question 14

what are some examples of secondary reinforcement for dolphins

Answer 14

certain toys the dolphin has become fond of through playing or crowd cheering/applause

Question 15

why are primary and secondary reinforcements randomly intermixed

Answer 15

provide variability during sessions

Question 16

what reinforcement schedule produces the strongest results

Answer 16

intermittent or partial schedule of reinforcement with variable or random amounts of reinforcement given in a random way (e.g. trainers will randomly give “jackpots” (handfuls of fish) throughout the session to keep attention levels high

Question 17

how does negative reinforcement increase the future probability of a behavior

Answer 17

removes a negative stimulus as consequence of a behavior (e.g. splashing the water with an object that the dolphin does not like to encourage the dolphin to move into adjoining pool. receives a desirable reinforcing consequence-pool without negative stimulus)

Question 18

what is nonreinforcement

Answer 18

not providing any form of stimulus, positive or negative

Question 19

how does nonreinforcement decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated

Answer 19

because the behavior is not followed by a positive consequence

Question 20

what is punishment classified as

Answer 20

a non reinforcing behavior by presenting a negative stimulus as a consequence of the behavior (is not utilized in the dolphin field as to not affect the relationship between the dolphin and trainer)

Question 21

what is utilized by trainers occasionally to decrease an undesirable behavior

Answer 21

time out (non reinforcing)

Question 22

what does a time out do

Answer 22

removes any positive stimuli from the trainer and decreases the future probability of the behavior it follows

Question 23

when would a time out be used appropriately

Answer 23

when inappropriate behavior is being exhibited (e.g. negative vocals, aggression towards tank mates)

Question 24

what is necessary for operant conditioning to be successful

Answer 24

informing the dolphin at the appropriate time that they are doing the desired behavior

Question 25

what does the whistle become after being introduced with positive reinforcement

Answer 25

a conditioned reinforcer that serves to bridge the gap in time between the instant the dolphin does the correct behavior and when the dolphin receives its reward

Question 26

why is the bridge one of the hardest methods for a new trainer

Answer 26

the whistle must be blown at the precise instant the behavior is correct for it to be affective

Question 27

what is a recall

Answer 27

acoustic tool such as a tap on a bucket/cooler, underwater sound, or slapping of a hand on the surface of the water

Question 28

what is the recall used for

Answer 28

redirecting the dolphin

Question 29

what is a station

Answer 29

trainer positions either a finger or hand in front of dolphin which signals the dolphin to have head vertical and eyes above water allowing for complete attention

Question 30

what is a target used for

Answer 30

indicate the location or position to a dolphin and is an extension of the trainer’s arm

Question 31

methods of training

Answer 31

direct manipulation
imitation or modeling
targeting
successive approximation
opportunistic training/capturing

Question 32

what is direct manipulation

Answer 32

physically maneuvering a dolphin through the desired motion, then reinforcing the behavior (e.g. holding the fluke in a pose and bridging when the desired pose is achieved)

Question 33

what is imitation or modeling

Answer 33

a trainer may model a behavior and reinforce when the dolphin imitates the behavior
(e.g. bobbing head up and down, animal sounds)

Question 34

what is targeting used for

Answer 34

to shape a behavior

Question 35

how does targeting work

Answer 35

a trainer’s hand or target pole is used to maneuver the dolphin into doing various movements that can be reinforced

Question 36

what is successive approximations

Answer 36

shapes a behavior by encouraging and reinforcing small steps that lead in the general direction of a desired behavior (e.g. encouraging higher dives by slowly raising target pole out of water)

Question 37

what is opportunistic training/capturing

Answer 37

when a trainer observes the dolphin exhibiting a desirable behavior that occurs spontaneously and bridges/reinforces the behavior. some of the first behaviors dolphins learn to exhibit on signal are spontaneous behaviors that do not involve any initial prompting by the trainer (e.g. used often to get vocals on signal-introduce the same hand signal whenever a signature whistle is given)

Question 38

trainers when working with dolphins in the same area must

Answer 38

begin and end each session at the same time. trainers and dolphins work simultaneously to create harmony during sessions

Question 39

good trainers avoid what

Answer 39

routine and never start or end sessions the same way

Question 40

trainers should strive to be

Answer 40

consistently inconsistent

Question 41

always end sessions on a

Answer 41

positive note (well known behavior performed beautifully/mastering a step in behavior training)

Question 42

apprentice trainers begin with what

Answer 42

practicing new learning techniques by maintaining behaviors that the dolphins already knoww

Question 43

what is the first step in any new training

Answer 43

writing a behavior chain

Question 44

what is a behavior chain

Answer 44

a specific plan of action that details each training step leading to the desired final behavior

Question 45

writing a behavior chain requires the trainer to do what

Answer 45

to think through the entire process-planning is important (a trainer will need to be ready to move onto the next step if the dolphin is ready or be ready to offer an understandable alternative if it is confused)

Question 46

what is substitute-conditioned reinforcement

Answer 46

a double tap of the hand on the back or side of the dolphin (used when whistle is not appropriate)