Fagen (Evaluation)

Question 1

Name 3 strengths of the study

Answer 1

1. Standardised training procedures
2. Reliability of the procedures
3. Ecological validity

Question 2

Name 3 weaknesses

Answer 2

1. Limited sample size and diversity
2. Low internal validity and confounding varibles
3. Relaibility/ replicability

Question 3

Standardised training procedure as a strength (point)

Answer 3

• The study utilised standardised training procedures across all ppts to ensure the study was reliplicable and thus reliable

Question 4

Standardised training procedure as a strength (evidence)

Answer 4

• Standardised behavioural checklist (ensures consistency in all observations and objective data collection and analysis)
• Standardised verbal cues that were not in Nepali/ English (Ensure the mahouts did not assit in training/ limiting influence of elephant demand characteristics)

Thus enhances the internal realiability of findings and thus ensures any observed differences in learning was due to SPR rather than variations in training methods

Question 5

Reliability as a strength (point)

Answer 5

• The training methodology used in the study facilliates any replication of the study thus allowing researchers to verify results.

Question 6

Reliability as a strength (evidence)

Answer 6

• A behavioural checklist which creates a clear replicable criteria which ensures obervation will be consistent across observers
• The training procedures and detailed descriptions of behavioural tasks were documented

Question 7

Ecological validity as a strength (point)

Answer 7

• The study was conducted in a natural setting where the elephants were being cared for and were used to rather than an artifical lab setting.

Question 8

Ecological validity (explanation)

Answer 8

• This increases the ecological validity of the study as its results can be generalised beyond the context of the research setting to other broader populations and situations
• Enhancing the ways in which the study can be applied to animal behavioural management

Question 9

Limited sample size and diversity (as a weakness) point

Answer 9

• The study was not representative of the broader population of elephants thus limiting the generalisability of the results

Question 10

limited sample size and diversity (as a weakness) (evidence)

Answer 10

• The sample consisted of 5 female elephants in a captive enviroment from 1 elephant stable in Nepal
• 4 juveniles and 1 senior (50s)
• No previous experince of SPR/ traditionally trained

Question 11

Limited sample size as a weakness (explanation)

Answer 11

• As the sample is not representative of the broader population of elephants
• It is difficult to generalise the results to male elephants, non captive, Non-nepali, older elephants as the results may have been specfic to the juvenile elephants
• Lowering the statistical power and generalisability of teh results

Question 12

Low internal validity and confounding varibles (point)

Question 13

Low internal validity (evidence)

Question 14

Low internal validity (explanation)

Question 15

Low relaibility (point)

Question 16

Low realibility (evidence)

Question 17

Low relaibility (evidence)