Date of Award:
5-1992
Document Type:
Thesis
Degree Name:
Master of Science (MS)
Department:
Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Sciences
Committee Chair(s)
Larry M. Slade
Committee
Larry M. Slade
Committee
Carl Cheney
Committee
Clive Arave
Abstract
This thesis is compromised of three studies in which basic principles of operant conditioning were applied to horses. Autoshaping was examined as a method for horse training. Observational learning was investigated to confirm that naive horses can, in fact,
acquire novel behavior by observing experienced horses, and the rate of acquisition with observation is more rapid than spontaneous responding without observation. A third study examined the effect of discriminative stimulus intensity on the acquisition rate of novel behavior.
All subjects learned to use an operant conditioning device. Subjects in the first study autoshaped. Observational learning was also demonstrated to be a means by which horses can learn. The rate of learning was significantly improved through observation. Intensity of the discriminative stimulus affects the acquisition of novel behavior. The subject exposed to the higher intensity stimulus acquired sustained manipulandum pressing significantly faster than other subjects.
It was concluded that horses acquire behavior in much the same manner as other species.
Checksum
b35b67de4c77b571d343fdf4ad1ecd94
Recommended Citation
Stewart, Paul H., "Equine Operant Conditioning: Autoshaping, Observational Learning, and Discriminative Stimulus Intensity" (1992). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023. 3839.
https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/3839
Included in
Copyright for this work is retained by the student. If you have any questions regarding the inclusion of this work in the Digital Commons, please email us at .