FAGEN ET AL. (ELEPHANT LEARNING)
EXAM-STYLEQUESTIONS
1. Explain what is meant by operant conditioning, using this study as an example(2
marks)
Operant conditionting is a theory of learning where behavior is influenced by its
consequences.Behavior that is getting reward will likely to be repeated. For example, in the Fagen
study elephants had used operant conditoning.Using banana as the reward and use whistle on
repeat so when the elephants hear whistle they know they are getting bananas.
2. Describe the psychology being investigated in the study by Fagen et al. (4marks)
The psychology being investigated are operant conditioning, primary reinforcement, secondary
positive reinforcement, animal welfare.
3. Explain why this study is from the learning approach (2 marks)
Because its a process of social learning. The way in which human and animals learn throughout
operant and classical conditioning. Process invlove stimulus- response experience within our
environment shape our behaviour.
4. Fagen et al. conducted structured observations throughout the trunk-washtraining
sessions. Give one strength of using structured observations in thisstudy (2 marks)
5. Fagen et al. only used five elephants in their study. Suggest one reason
whygeneralisations cannot be made from the sample in this study (2 marks)
The sample size is too small and Fagen et wal. only use female elephants which the range is too
short to be generalise.
6. Paavak has decided to interview some of the mahouts about the use of traditional
methods versus secondary reinforcement training using rewards.Describe how Paavak could
conduct semi-structured interviews with themahouts about how they train their elephants (10
marks)
She should start from creating closed and open questions. Open questions that she could ask such
as " Between traditonal methods vs secondary reinforcements methods which have higher number
of success?'' or closed question such as" Would you rather choose traditional methods or secondary
reinforcements methods?". Adding up Paavak could add questionaires such as tick box on how
satisfy when using each methods and require the mahouts write the experience with long answers
how they felt.
EXAM-STYLEQUESTIONS
1. Explain what is meant by operant conditioning, using this study as an example(2
marks)
Operant conditionting is a theory of learning where behavior is influenced by its
consequences.Behavior that is getting reward will likely to be repeated. For example, in the Fagen
study elephants had used operant conditoning.Using banana as the reward and use whistle on
repeat so when the elephants hear whistle they know they are getting bananas.
2. Describe the psychology being investigated in the study by Fagen et al. (4marks)
The psychology being investigated are operant conditioning, primary reinforcement, secondary
positive reinforcement, animal welfare.
3. Explain why this study is from the learning approach (2 marks)
Because its a process of social learning. The way in which human and animals learn throughout
operant and classical conditioning. Process invlove stimulus- response experience within our
environment shape our behaviour.
4. Fagen et al. conducted structured observations throughout the trunk-washtraining
sessions. Give one strength of using structured observations in thisstudy (2 marks)
5. Fagen et al. only used five elephants in their study. Suggest one reason
whygeneralisations cannot be made from the sample in this study (2 marks)
The sample size is too small and Fagen et wal. only use female elephants which the range is too
short to be generalise.
6. Paavak has decided to interview some of the mahouts about the use of traditional
methods versus secondary reinforcement training using rewards.Describe how Paavak could
conduct semi-structured interviews with themahouts about how they train their elephants (10
marks)
She should start from creating closed and open questions. Open questions that she could ask such
as " Between traditonal methods vs secondary reinforcements methods which have higher number
of success?'' or closed question such as" Would you rather choose traditional methods or secondary
reinforcements methods?". Adding up Paavak could add questionaires such as tick box on how
satisfy when using each methods and require the mahouts write the experience with long answers
how they felt.
