Training petting zoo sheep to act like petting zoo sheep: An empirical evaluation of response-independent schedules and shaping with negative reinforcement

dc.contributor.authorFernandez, E.J.
dc.date.issued2020
dc.description.abstractShaping through differential reinforcement of successive approximations to a target response has been a cornerstone procedure for the training of novel behavior. However, much of how it has traditionally been implemented occurs through informal observation, rather than any direct, systematic measurement. In the present study, we examine the use of response-independent food schedules and shaping for increasing approach and contact behaviors in petting zoo sheep. In Experiment 1, a fixed-time (FT) 15 s food schedule was used to effectively increase approach and contact behaviors in one sheep. In Experiment 2, negative reinforcement in the form of removal of the presence of a trainer was made contingent on the successful completion of approximations within a shaping procedure and later switched to food rewards. A changing-criterion design was used to empirically examine the effects of the shaping procedure during each step of the program. The result is one of the first studies to demonstrate the utility of using negative reinforcement within a shaping procedure to successfully intervene on approach/avoidance behaviors in an applied animal setting.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityEduardo J. Fernandez
dc.identifier.citationAnimals, 2020; 10(7):1122-1-1122-13
dc.identifier.doi10.3390/ani10071122
dc.identifier.issn2076-2615
dc.identifier.issn2076-2615
dc.identifier.orcidFernandez, E.J. [0000-0001-5444-6604]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/145970
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherMDPI
dc.rights© 2020 by the author. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071122
dc.subjectanimal training; counterconditioning; husbandry; negative reinforcement; operant conditioning; petting zoo; response-independent schedules; sheep; shaping
dc.titleTraining petting zoo sheep to act like petting zoo sheep: An empirical evaluation of response-independent schedules and shaping with negative reinforcement
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

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