Fagen et al. (2012) Flashcards
What is operant conditioning
- rewards learning by consequence of rewards or punishment
- negative = punishment
- positive = reward
Learning approach
- learning as a result of conditioning
(classical/operant) - social learning
(observations and limitations)
Positive and negative reinforcement
Positive reinforcement = favorable events/outcomes that are presented after the behavior
Negative reinforcement = involves removing something that is unfavorable after display of behavior (removing something considered unpleasant/negative)
Punishment
Where an adverse event/outcome is presented which causes a decrease in the behavior it follows
Positive punishment
Adding something to the behavior where it’s less likely to reoccur
Negative punishment
Removing the stimulus to behavior
Reinforcement schedules
Time and frequency of reinforcement that influences how new behaviors are learned and old behaviors are modified
Continuous reinforcement
- involves delivering a reinforcement every time a response occurs
- this is used best during initial stages of learning to create strong association between behavior and response
Partial reinforcement
- conditioning process where behavior is reinforced only a portion of the time, rather than every time it occurs
- more resistant for behavior to go extinct
- time: fixed-interval, variable-interval
- response: fixed-ratio, variable-ratio
Fixed-ratio schedule
- fixed to be given to a certain number of responses that have been made
- eg: after every 5 responses, a reinforcement will be made
Variable-ratio schedule
- interval of time isn’t always the same, but centers around the same average length of time
- only provided after a variable number of correct responses have been made
- eg: sometimes 3, 4, 5 responses and then make an average
Animal ethical guidelines
- numbers
- housing
- replacement
- species and strain
- pain and distress
- procedure
- rewards
Fixed interval schedule
- occurs only after a certain interval of time has gone
- this means it’s predetermined
- interval of time is always the same
- eg: every 3 secs time has elapsed
Variable interval schedule
- interval is not always the same
- centers around same average length of time
Primary reinforcers
A reward that fulfils a biological need
- eg: food, drink, shelter
What is Secondary Positive Reinforcement (SPR)?
When a secondary reinforcer, like a sound marker, is used and then followed with administration of a primary reinforcer, like food
Advantage of SPR: ability to shape captive animal’s behavior to improve their health and well-being
Secondary reinforcers
They are learned and worked via association with primary reinforcers
- eg: money, good grades, tokens, etc
Background of the study
Investigate the use of SPR training to teach elephants to reliably/voluntarily engage in trunk washing procedure designed to maintain their well-being
Aim of the study
The aim of the study is to investigate if free-contact, traditionally trained elephants can be trained to participate in trunk wash by using positive reinforcement
Sample
- 5 female elephants
–> 4 juveniles (5-7 yrs old, born at stable)
–> 1 adult (in her 50s) - all housed at same elephant stable in Nepal
- not pregnant
- all traditionally trained
- free contact with their mahouts
- none of elephants had experience with SPR
- mahouts volunteered