Dog Training Dog Training Canine Learning Theory Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the term for a dog learning to ignore a repeated stimulus that has no significant consequence?
- Habituation (Correct answer)
- Sensitization
- Flooding
- Desensitization
Correct answer: Habituation
Habituation occurs when an animal learns to stop responding to a stimulus that is neither rewarding nor harmful after repeated exposure.
Question 2: In operant conditioning, what happens during an extinction burst?
- The behavior temporarily increases in frequency or intensity before declining (Correct answer)
- The behavior immediately stops
- The dog learns a new replacement behavior
- The conditioned stimulus loses its association
Correct answer: The behavior temporarily increases in frequency or intensity before declining
During an extinction burst, the animal temporarily performs the behavior more frequently or intensely before it eventually decreases when reinforcement is withheld.
Question 3: Which schedule of reinforcement produces the highest and most consistent response rate?
- Variable ratio (Correct answer)
- Fixed ratio
- Fixed interval
- Variable interval
Correct answer: Variable ratio
Variable ratio schedules produce high, steady response rates because the animal cannot predict which response will be reinforced.
Question 4: What does the Premack Principle state about reinforcement?
- A more probable behavior can reinforce a less probable behavior (Correct answer)
- Punishment is more effective than reinforcement
- Primary reinforcers are always stronger than secondary ones
- Behaviors must be shaped in sequential order
Correct answer: A more probable behavior can reinforce a less probable behavior
The Premack Principle states that access to a higher-probability behavior can serve as reinforcement for performing a lower-probability behavior.
Question 5: What is the key difference between classical and operant conditioning?
- Classical conditioning pairs involuntary responses with stimuli, while operant conditioning modifies voluntary behaviors through consequences (Correct answer)
- Classical conditioning uses rewards and operant uses punishment
- Classical conditioning is faster than operant conditioning
- Classical conditioning only works with food-based stimuli
Correct answer: Classical conditioning pairs involuntary responses with stimuli, while operant conditioning modifies voluntary behaviors through consequences
Classical conditioning involves associating an involuntary reflexive response with a new stimulus, while operant conditioning shapes voluntary behaviors through reinforcement or punishment.
Question 6: What is stimulus generalization in canine learning?
- A dog responds to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus (Correct answer)
- A dog only responds to the exact trained stimulus
- A dog stops responding to all stimuli
- A dog responds only in the original training environment
Correct answer: A dog responds to stimuli similar to the original conditioned stimulus
Stimulus generalization occurs when a dog responds to stimuli that are similar but not identical to the original conditioned stimulus.
What is the term for a dog learning to ignore a repeated stimulus that has no significant consequence?