Training Stuff

Question 1

How is a DRI different from ART

Answer 1

DRI (differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior) uses previous behaviors to avoid unwanted behaviors while ART (alternate response training) is reinforcing for being calm in high stress areas

Question 2

What are the two types of reinforcement and define them

Answer 2

1. Primary/unconditioned: stimuli whose reinforcing value is intrinsic such as food but may not be reinforcing all the time (using food after a large meal)
2. Secondary/conditioned: stimuli whose reinforcing value were once neutral but acquired value by being paired with events/stimuli that are already reinforcing

Question 3

What is a negative reinforcer and example

Answer 3

• reinforcer is removed after a response is performed and increase the behavior that preceded their removal
• example is Eddie being calm in photo after showving as a result, leave photo early

Question 4

What is the premack principle and example

Answer 4

• If opportunity to perform a more probable response is made contingent upon the performance of a less probable response, the frequency of the latter should increase
• Ex. Dog wants to chase ball (more probable) he must first drop the ball (less probable)

Question 5

How is shaping a behavior achieved

Answer 5

Target behavior is achieved by reinforcing small steps or approximations toward the desired operant
- As the initial approximate behavior is performed consistently, the criterion for reinforcment is altered slightly so that the successive operant which is to be reinforced resembles the desired operant more closely than the previous operant response

Question 6

What is a chain

Answer 6

Chain is composed of a series of responses joined together by stimuli that act both as conditioned reinforcers and as discriminative stimuli

Question 7

What are prompts

Answer 7

events that help initate a response/behavior

Question 8

What are the two ways that organisms respond to its environment

Answer 8

1. respondent behavior: when behavior is involuntary (reflexes)
2. operant behavior: when behavior is under voluntary control

Question 9

What is behavior

Answer 9

any observable/measurable response

Question 10

What changes the effectiveness of reinforcement

Answer 10

• Consistenty: most important condition for effective use of reinforcement is that it be contigent on behavior
• Timing: response is more easily learned if it is followed immediately by a reinforcing consequence
• Magnitude: Greater the amount of reinforcement, the higher the frequency of the response (but is such thing as too much)
• Quality: Type of reinforcement will vary in effectiveness from one individual to another depending on preference

Question 11

What is continuous reinforcement

Answer 11

continuous reinforcement refers to a response being reinforced each time it occurs

Question 12

What is intermittent reinforcement

Answer 12

When reinforcement occurs after only some of the appropriate reponses

Question 13

What are the differences in effectiveness of continuous and intermittent reinforcement

Answer 13

• continuous: response learned at a higher rate but may experience extinction rapidly
• Intermittent reinforcement allows a higher behavioral consistency and satiation is less likely to occur

Question 14

Extinction

Answer 14

• refers to the procedure in which a previously reinforced response is no longer reinforced
• May lead to an increase in the frequency and intensity of responding at the beginning of extinction (extinction burst)
• May also lead to a response that has not been reinforced to occur sporadically and temporatily during the course of extinction (spontaneous recovery)

Question 15

What are the 4 types of intermittent reinforcement

Answer 15

• Ratio schedules: reinforcement is contingent on the number of correct responses that must be emimtted to result in reinforcement
  1. fixed ratio: requried number is fixed
  2. variable ratio: required number varies each time
• Interval schedules: first correct response which occurs after a designated interval has elapsed is reinforced
  3. fixed ratio: interval between opportunities for reinforcement is constant
  4. variable interval: interval between opportunities for reinforcement varies

Question 16

what does FI 3, VI 2, and FR 50 mean

Answer 16

FI 3: fixed-interval schedule, reinforcement can be given 3 minutes after previous reinforcement
VI 2: variable interval schedule, average interval between reinforcement is 2 minutes but has a wide range
FR 50: fixed ratio in which every 50th response is reinforced

Question 17

What is a disadvantage of fixed schedules of reinforcement

Answer 17

• Usually produce a temporary decline in the rate of responding following the delivery of reinforcement
• Normally even more pronounced in fixed interval schedules since the number of responses doesn’t matter as much as the timing of the repsonse

Question 18

What is the advantage of using variable schedules

Answer 18

• produce behavior which remains consistently high
• Variable-ratio schedules tend to produce even higher rates and consistency of performance than variable interval

Question 19

What are the 3 key factors in building and maintaining a rewarding animal/trainer relationship

Answer 19

1. utilizing VRRV (variable ratio schedule of reinforcement with reinforcement variety
2. Use of LRS when necessary to decrease undesirable behaviors
3. Interactive sessions

Question 20

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 20

type of training in which a favorable response is followed by the delivery of a favorable stimulus/positive reinforcer

Question 21

Explain the process involved in training “target” with animals

Answer 21

1. trainers touch the target gently to the animal, bridge is given and animal is reinforced. Repeated multiple times
2. Target is positioned a few inches away from the animal, trainer waits for animal to touch the target, animal then gets bridged and reinforced
3. Once successfully done multiple times, target is moved farther away, animal touches it gets bridged and reinforced until eventually animal follows the target

Question 22

What is a bridge

Answer 22

A conditioned reinforcer; lets animal know that they performed desirable behavior and food may come soon

Question 23

What is VRRV and how is if helpful

Answer 23

• Variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, with reinforcement variety
• variable ratio schedule of reinforcement: number of desired responses needed for reinforcement varies
• VRRV is helpful as it eliminates predictability thus, boredom, frustration, and agression are less likely to occur

Question 24

What is an approximation

Answer 24

when an animal is reinforced for each successsive step toward the final goal of a desired behavior

Question 25

Explain how shaping a behavior works when teaching a dolphin to do a high jump

Answer 25

1. Dolphin is reinforced for touching a target on the surface of the water 2. Trainer raises the target a few inches above the water, and reinforced the animal for touching it 3. As dolphin suceeds, trainer continues to raise the target higher that eventually dolphin brings its entire body out of the water 4. Trainer continues to raise the target until it is at the desired level

Question 26

What is stimulus discrimination

Answer 26

When an animal learns to discriminate signals to determine which behavior the trainer expects

Question 27

What is the lexigram reinforcement system and what is its use

Answer 27

System in which the animal may select its own reinforcer from an assortment of reinforcers; involves training the animal to associate a symbol (lexigram) with a known reinforcer. Allows trainers to gain information on different areas of animal learning; investigates the hypothesis that animals may learn at a faster rate, with better retention, when given a choice of reinforcing consequences

Question 28

What are the types of interactive sessions and what are they

Answer 28

1. Learning sessions: formal training in which trainers condition specific behaviors 2. Exercise sessions: consist of high-energy behaviors 3. Relationship session: trainer spends one-on-one quiet interactive time with the animal to develop reciprocal trust 4. Play sessions: trainer and animals interact with games and toys that the animals enjoy 5. Shows: educate the public about the animals

Question 29

What are some fundamental training issues

Answer 29

- Environmental desensitization: working with animals to become desensitized to unusual/unexpected changes in their environment (trainers reinforce animals for responding calmly to a change in the environment) - Working with individual animals: many of the animals we work with live in social groups so trainers work with animals to learn to feel comfortable performing individually as well as in groups so that they are comfortable moving to and from stage areas alone or with combinations of other animals