Training Techniques & Methodologies Flashcards

Which training principle states that a behavior followed by a pleasant consequence is more likely to be repeated?

Answer: Law of Effect

Thorndike's Law of Effect states that behaviors producing satisfying outcomes are strengthened and more likely to recur.

A trainer uses a clicker the instant a dog sits, then delivers a treat. What is the clicker functioning as in this scenario?

Answer: Secondary reinforcer

The clicker is a secondary (conditioned) reinforcer because it gains value by being paired with a primary reinforcer like food.

What is 'shaping' in dog training?

Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a target behavior

Shaping involves reinforcing incremental steps that progressively get closer to the final desired behavior.

When a trainer adds an unpleasant stimulus to reduce a behavior, this is called:

Answer: Positive punishment

Positive punishment involves adding (positive) an aversive stimulus to decrease the likelihood of a behavior.

A dog that has learned 'sit' in the kitchen struggles to perform it at the park. What training concept does this illustrate?

Answer: Lack of generalization

Generalization is the ability to perform a learned behavior across varied contexts; dogs often need explicit training in multiple environments.

Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest rate of responding and greatest resistance to extinction?

Answer: Variable ratio

Variable ratio schedules reinforce after an unpredictable number of responses, producing high, steady response rates with strong resistance to extinction.

A dog barks at the door and the owner asks it to sit before opening it. Over time the dog automatically sits at the door. This is an example of:

Answer: Behavior chain

A behavior chain links individual behaviors in sequence where each behavior cues the next, culminating in a final reinforcer.