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Shaping cows' approach to humans using positive and negative reinforcement.

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Description:

Negative reinforcement can be a powerful tool for behavior analysts, yet it is often overlooked as a treatment method. Pryor (1999) outlines a method for approaching a "timid" animal using a combination of negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement. When the animal stands still, the human operates a clicker, and then retreats from the animal. Gradually, the human moves closer to the animal through the clicking and retreating shaping process. Once the human is standing close enough, food may be offered as a positive reinforcer, and the negative reinforcer is canceled out. The purpose of this study was to experimentally demonstrate the click-retreat technique with cows. A multiple-baseline design across subjects was used to test this technique. Results show that the click and retreat technique was effective. Results are discussed in terms of the difference between the click-retreat technique and systematic desensitization.

Creator: Morehead, Melissa L.
Creation Date: 2005-05
Partner(s):
UNT Libraries
Collection(s):
UNT Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Creator (Author):
Publisher Info:
Publisher Name: University of North Texas
Place of Publication: Denton, Texas
Original Creation Date: 2005-05
Description:

Negative reinforcement can be a powerful tool for behavior analysts, yet it is often overlooked as a treatment method. Pryor (1999) outlines a method for approaching a "timid" animal using a combination of negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement. When the animal stands still, the human operates a clicker, and then retreats from the animal. Gradually, the human moves closer to the animal through the clicking and retreating shaping process. Once the human is standing close enough, food may be offered as a positive reinforcer, and the negative reinforcer is canceled out. The purpose of this study was to experimentally demonstrate the click-retreat technique with cows. A multiple-baseline design across subjects was used to test this technique. Results show that the click and retreat technique was effective. Results are discussed in terms of the difference between the click-retreat technique and systematic desensitization.

Degree:
Level: Master's
Discipline: Behavior Analysis
Language: English
Subject(s):
Keyword(s): negative reinforcement | positive reinforcement | systematic desensitization | in vivo desensitization
Contributor(s):
Partner:
UNT Libraries
Collection:
UNT Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Identifier:
  • OCLC: 62144996 |
  • ARK: ark:/67531/metadc4730
Resource Type: Electronic Thesis or Dissertation
Format: Text
Rights:
Access: unt
License: copyright
Holder: Morehead, Melissa L.
Statement: Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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