Fagen et. al. (2014) (Elephant Learning) Flashcards
What was the aim of Fagan’s study?
To investigate whether secondary positive reinforcement can train elephants to voluntarily complete a trunk wash for TB testing.
What type of reinforcement was used in Fagan’s study?
Positive reinforcement (a type of operant conditioning).
What were the primary and secondary reinforcers in Fagan’s study?
Primary: Chopped bananas. Secondary: Whistle blast paired with bananas via classical conditioning.
What research method was used in Fagan’s study?
A controlled and structured observation using a behavioral checklist.
What was the research design in Fagan’s study?
Repeated measures design.
What were the independent and dependent variables in Fagan’s study?
IV: Cues/offers made to elephants. DV: Training duration, number of cues, success rate for each behavior and sequence.
What was the sample in Fagan’s study?
Five female elephants from Nepal (4 juveniles aged 5-7 and 1 adult aged 50+).
What were the steps of the trunk wash training in Fagan’s study?
- Trunk in trainer’s hand. 2. Lift trunk. 3. Lower trunk into bucket. 4. Blow into bucket. 5. Hold trunk steady.
What training techniques were used in Fagan’s study?
- Capturing 2. Luring 3. Shaping 4. Secondary reinforcement using a whistle.
How was the syringe introduced to the elephants?
- Touched outside the trunk. 2. Placed inside the trunk. 3. A drop of fluid injected. 4. 1-15ml injected. 5. 60ml injected.
What were the key findings of Fagan’s study?
- Elephants learned the trunk wash in 25-35 sessions. 2. Training took 367 minutes on average. 3. Success rate increased from 39% to 89.3% after 35 sessions.
Why was Elephant 5 excluded from the final results?
She failed to learn the full trunk wash and was not fully desensitized to the syringe.
What were the conclusions of Fagan’s study?
Secondary positive reinforcement is effective for training juvenile elephants to voluntarily complete a trunk wash.
What were the strengths of Fagan’s study?
- Operationalized behavioral checklist increased reliability. 2. High ecological validity. 3. Ethical considerations were followed.
What were the weaknesses of Fagan’s study?
- Small sample size limits generalizability. 2. Standardized procedures were not followed for all elephants. 3. Observer bias may have influenced results.
How does Fagan’s study apply to real life?
It demonstrates that positive reinforcement can be used to train captive elephants for medical procedures, reducing stress and the need for restraints.
What is capturing in animal training?
Reinforcing a natural behavior when it occurs spontaneously, increasing the likelihood of repetition.
How was capturing used in Fagan’s study?
Elephants were rewarded with bananas when they spontaneously lifted their trunks, reinforcing the behavior.
What is luring in animal training?
Encouraging an animal to perform a behavior by positioning a reward to guide movement.
How was luring used in Fagan’s study?
Trainers placed treats out of reach to encourage elephants to stretch their trunks forward.
What is shaping in animal training?
Reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior until the full behavior is learned.
How was shaping used in Fagan’s study?
Elephants were rewarded for behaviors that were close to the goal, like blowing near the bucket, until they performed the exact behavior required.
What is secondary reinforcement?
A stimulus that becomes reinforcing through association with a primary reinforcer via classical conditioning.
How was secondary reinforcement used in Fagan’s study?
A whistle blast was paired with the delivery of bananas, making the whistle itself a reinforcer.
