Pepperberg Flashcards by Ruby Clarke

Which of the learning approach assumptions does Pepperberg apply to?

Social learning helps to explain changes in behaviour - model/rival approach, attention, retention, production, motivation
Conditioning helps to explain changes in behaviour - operant conditioning using reward

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Explain social learning theory

our environment is a key part of learning, and through this we can learn things.

Attention
Retention
Motivation
Production

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Explain operant conditioning

Operant conditioning is learning through outcome. It uses reinforcement and punishment - whether that is positive or negative.

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Explain the model/rival technique used in Pepperberg

Two people, One the model/rival, and one the “trainer” (swapped regularly)
Model/Rival was to answer questions given on the same/different concept, and was to answer correctly or incorrectly
“trainer” was to ask set questions, and give correct punishment (“NO!”), or reinforcement (Giving object)
Alex was allowed to intervene with his “rival” when he wanted to.

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What is the concept being studied in Pepperberg?

the concept of Same/different

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Explain the Concept being studied in Pepperberg

Same/different is using symbols (in this case vocal for Alex) to show understanding of similarities in objects, and oddity from objects.

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What is the psychology being investigated in Pepperberg?

Social learning theory
Operant conditioning (mainly reward given here)

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What is the aim of Pepperberg?

To test whether an avian subject, such as an African Grey Parrot, can use vocal labels to demonstrate symbolic understanding of the concept of same/different

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Hypothesis of Pepperberg

(not specifically said in the study)

There will be a difference to how Alex responds to familiar, vs novel objects.

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Sampling method in Pepperberg

Opportunity

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What did Alex the parrot know prior to the Pepperberg study?

80 different objects of various shapes, colours and materials.

Vocal labels for:

Five colours: green, rose, blue, yellow, grey
Various shapes (2, 3, 4, 5 cornered shapes)
Four materials - wood, hide, paper, cork

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What were Alex the parrot’s living conditions like? (3)

Was allowed free in the Lab, and able to go elsewhere with vocal request for 8 hours per day
Slept in a wire cage during sleep hours
food and water available at all times - eg. standard seed mix. Fresh fruit, vegetables etc. were available on vocal request

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What type of study and experimental design was used for Pepperberg?

Case study

(therefore repeated measures)

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What were the 3 possible correct response categories Alex could answer in the Pepperberg study?

Matter (mah mah)
Colour
Shape

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What were the two potential questions Alex could be askes that are relevant to the Pepperberg study procedure?

What’s same?
What’s Different?

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What was Alex’s reward for answering a question correctly?

Given the objects, or was allowed to vocalise a request for something different (positive reinforcement)

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What was Alex’s punishment for answering a question incorrectly?

Experimenter shouts “No!” (Positive punishment)
Experimenter takes objects out of sight (negative punishment)

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What were signs that Alex was getting bored in the Pepperberg study?

Stops answering questions
Start preening
Other vocal requests (eg. “I wanna go X”)

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How many times a week did training take place for Alex the Parrot in the Pepperberg study?

2 - 4 times per week

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How long did training procedures last for Alex in the Pepperberg study?

5 minutes to 1 hour

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Explain what was used in the general training procedure in the Pepperberg study

Model/rival approach

How was the same/different training conducted in the Pepperberg study?

With the model/rival approach

Two objects presented, and “trainer” asks ‘what’s same?’ or ‘what’s different?’

If incorrect: “No!” and object taken away

If correct: “good parrot” and given objects

What category was initially not included in training procedures in Pepperberg, and why?

Matter, because Alex had not yet learnt how to vocalise the label.

What objects were used in the same/different training procedures in Pepperberg?

Colours: Red, green, blue

Shapes: triangle, square

Matter: Rawhide, wood

What was the criteria to be met in training, before testing procedures could begin in the Pepperberg study?

* Clear vocalisation of labels, rather than accuracy of understanding - as this was the thing actually being tested for * Once **90%** agreement of “mah mah” from experimenters, testing could begin

How often did testing procedures take place in the Pepperberg study?

1 to 4 times per week

How was researcher bias minimised in the Pepperberg study?

* Pepperberg (principal trainer) was to sit facing away in the corner of the room. Her role was to ensure inter-rater reliability for Alex's vocalisations of his answers. She also made a list for possible objects that could then be chosen by the secondary trainer. * A secondary trainer organised the order, and asked Alex the questions

Rewards and Punishment for Alex during testing procedures in the Pepperberg study

* Same as in model/rival procedures Correct: “good parrot”, given the objects Incorrect: “No!” (+ turn of the head), objects taken out of sight

Objects used for the tests on familiar objects in the Pepperberg study

* Similar to those used in training * Including one additional colour, shape and material found in the lab * Also used previously novel objects used in novel objects testing that were now familiar.

Explain the Novel objects trials in the Pepperberg study

* At least one, often both objects were completely unfamiliar to Alex * Completely unfamiliar objects were shelved in Alex's view for a couple days prior to presenting them, as to avoid a fear response. - These specific objects were never the exact ones used

Explain the Probes test in the Pepperberg study

* Done randomly throughout testing * Presented two objects, and asked a question for which there would be _two_ possible correct category answers.

What was the reason for the Probes testing in the Pepperberg study?

* to ensure Alex was paying attention to what was being asked, and not instantly assuming the answer by looking at the objects

How long did it take Alex to learn “colour” and “shape” in the Pepperberg study

4 months

How long did it take Alex to learn “matter” in the Pepperberg study

9 months

Pepperberg: results on **familiar objects,** all trials

99/129 - 76.6%

Pepperberg: Results on **familiar objects,** first trials

69/99 - 69.7%

Pepperberg: Results for objects **no longer novel**, all trials

13/17 - 76.5%

Pepperberg: Results for objects **no longer novel**, first trials

10/13 - 76.9%

Pepperberg: Results for **novel objects**, all trials

96/113 - 85%

Pepperberg: Results for **novel objects**, first trials

79/96 - 82.3%

Pepperberg: Results for **Probes**, all trials

55/61 - 90.2%

Pepperberg: Results for **Probes**, first trials

49/55 - 89.1%

What is the explanation for more accuracy seen in the novel objects trials vs the tests on familiar objects in the Pepperberg study?

Because Alex received the object for getting the answer correct, his incentive may have bee higher to get questions right with unfamiliar objects, as they are more new and interesting to him.

What is the conclusion of the Pepperberg study?

* At least 1 avian subject (an African Grey Parrot) can use symbolic labels to understand the concept of same/different

Is the Pepperberg study on the nature or nurture side of the debate?

**Nurture**: Alex was taught symbolic understanding by humans through rewards

**Generalisability** - Pepperberg

**Negative:** * only 1 parrot * raised in a lab, can't even generalise to other parrots

**Reliability -** Pepperberg

**Positive:** * Standardised procedures - M/r techniques, equal amounts of same and different questions * Inter-observer reliability for the “mah mah” label - 90%

**Application** - Pepperberg (3)

model/rival approach: * can teach animals correct ways to behave in different environments eg. an injured wild that needs to be kept in a zoo * Using model/rival approach to educate children * More humane treatment of animals, specifically birds, as we know they can comprehend more than we thought.

**Validity** - Pepperberg

**Positive:** * probes trials and their purpose * Principal trainer facing away - helped researcher bias * Secondary trainer asking questions, and making the order - helped researcher bias * 33% chance of answering correctly if guessed - better than 50% * Quantitative data allows comparison between familiar and novel objects * Comparisons between familiar and novel objects shows Alex could apply the same/different concept to a wider range of items

**Ethics** - Pepperberg

**Positive:** * housing (allowed freedom and request) * rewards (given) * Numbers (case study - one used) * Appropriate species & strain (lab parrot) **Negative** * African Grey Parrots are social animals, therefore being kept alone wasn't ideal * AGP are such intelligent animals, therefore may have been unethical to keep Alex in an artificial environment.