fagen et al. Flashcards
psychology being investigated
operant conditioning
shaping
behaviour is gradually changed through multiple stages until the
animal can consistently reproduce the desired behaviour. Rewards are given for behaviours that are increasingly similar to the desired behaviour.
behavioural chaining
animals are trained to perform a sequence (chain) of behaviours using reinforcement. Each behaviour is learned through shaping.Then, the animal is only rewarded when the first 2 behaviours are performed consecutively. Then a third behaviour will be added, removing and giving rewards until the full chain has been learned.
types of reinforcement
- positive reinforcement
- negative reinforcement
- punisment
- primary reinforcement
- secondary reinforcement
positive reinforcement
Target behaviour is followed by something desirable; behaviour
becomes more likely
negative reinforcement
Removal of an aversive/negative
stimulus as a reward following a target behaviour
primary reinforcement
Using a reinforcer that meets a biological need
secondary reinforcement
Using a reinforcer that does not meet a biological need but is associated with a primary reinforcer
background
- Traditional elephant trainers (mahouts) use operant conditioning techniques to
train working elephants using punishment and negative reinforcement.
-These methods raise concerns about animal welfare and keeper safety, so this study used rewards to train elephants. - The target behaviour was a ‘trunk wash’ (chain of behaviours necessary to test elephants for tuberculosis).
- Secondary reinforcement training was used to shape the necessary behaviours
and then chain them together. First, a whistle (secondary reinforcer) was associated with the primary reinforcer (chopped bananas). The trainers then
rewarded the elephants directly after each desired behaviour, using the whistle
aim
To investigate whether secondary positive reinforcement could be used to train elephants to voluntarily complete a trunk wash.
research method
structured, non-participant observation.
data collection techniques
A behavioural checklist was used to measure how successful the
elephants were in completing trunk-wash behaviours, it included:
1. Trunk here
2. Trunk up
3. Trunk down
4. Blow into the bucket
5. Hold steady
variables
- minutes of training
- number of verbal cues made to the elephant
- success rate for each behaviour and sequence- success criteria is 80%
sample
Size: 5.
Demographic: elephants housed at the same stable in Nepal; four aged 5–7 years , (juvenile) one adult in her 50s; all female.
Sampling technique: the elephants were chosen as they were docile
and not pregnant; handlers were available and willing.
procedure
The 5-step trunk wash was taught using secondary positive reinforcement, shaping and behavioural chaining . Training sessions lasted 2.5-3 hours. Techniques involved:
-capturing: banana given following naturally occurring desired behaviours
- luring: positioning banana to encourage desired behaviours
-verbal cues: one-syllable verbal cues to prompt the elephants to show the trunk-wash behaviours
-desensitisation: the trainers gradually brought the syringe (an aversive stimulus) closer to the elephant’s trunk; the elephant was given banana each time she allowed the syringe nearer
-counter conditioning: conditioning the elephant to associate the syringe with
banana.
controls
- The observer used the same behavioural checklist in each session, including
detailed operational descriptions. - The training procedure was standardised. eg. same verbal cues used
ethical issues
- Elephants, although chained, were free to walk away if they did not want to participate.
- Pain and distress- This reduced distress/psychological harm for the animals and risk of physical harm to the trainers
results
- The juveniles learned the full trunk wash in 25–35 sessions; mean12 mins per session (total training time: 367 mins).
- The adult failed to learn the full sequence.
– She did not meet success criteria for blowing and hold steady.
– She was also never fully desensitised to the syringe. - Two juveniles also failed hold steady, except as part of the full trunk wash.
- The success rate for accurate individual behaviours/sequences increased from 39 to 89 % after 35 sessions.
- The most difficult behaviour to learn was trunk here/trunk in hand (295 offers).
- The easiest behaviour to learn was blow into bucket
conclusion
Secondary positive reinforcement is effective for training juvenile elephants to voluntarily and reliably participate in a trunk wash.
evaluation
- Reliability
-behavioural checklist (S) - Validity
-no additional cues from the mahouts (S)
- problem wit behavioural checklist (W) - Objectivity
-ratin success and failure (W) - Generalistaions
-generalising beyond the sample (W)
-generalising to everyday life (S)
issues and debates
- Individual and situational explanations
- Individual differences in age/physical health of the adult elephant may explain her lack of learning.
- Situational factors may have affected her ability to learn the trunk wash. eg. The trainers may have responded differently to her due to her age. - Application to everyday life
-Fagen et al. developed a safe, ethical and effective way of training elephants to perform health checks.
-This procedure will help improve animal health and benefit humans, who can catch tuberculosis from elephants.
- Animals could be trained for other veterinary procedures using these principles, eg. taking blood samples
3.The use of animals in research
-Small sample follows advice to reduce sample size and use the minimum
number of animals required.
-Distress/pain was reduced by only using positive reinforcement The elephants were able to move away if they wanted to.
