Questions and Answers
What is the approach based on reinforcements and punishments?
Operant Conditioning
Which field of psychology focuses on operant conditioning?
What did Premack's research suggest about pigeons?
Pigeons may understand same but not different.
What abilities did Alex the parrot have?
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The four processes Alex needs to go through to get a correct response are ATTEND, DETERMINE, WORK OUT, and ______.
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What was the aim of the study involving Alex?
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What was the independent variable in the study?
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What was the dependent variable in the study?
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How long was the duration of testing?
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Who was the participant in the study?
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What role does the trainer have in the Model/Rival Approach?
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What materials were used in training?
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How did the researchers reduce demand characteristics?
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What was the correct response to Alex's successful answers?
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What happened when Alex provided an incorrect response?
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How could the trainers tell that Alex was bored?
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Match the following ethical considerations with their descriptions:
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How long did it take for Alex to learn color and shape labels?
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What were the results of Alex's first trial with familiar objects?
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What were the results of Alex's first trial with novel objects?
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What conclusions were drawn about parrots from the study?
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What is one strength of this research?
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What is a weakness of this research?
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Study Notes
Learning Approach
- Operant conditioning involves behavioral responses influenced by reinforcements and punishments.
Psychological Aspects
- Investigates learning psychology through operant conditioning and cognitive psychology regarding categorization.
Historical Context
- Premack's research indicated that pigeons could understand sameness but struggled with differences, highlighting non-human primates' ability to communicate abstract ideas.
Previous Research with Alex
- Alex, an African Grey parrot, demonstrated an ability to categorize objects, count to six, and use functional phrases, recognizing four colors and shapes, along with various materials.
Processes for Correct Response
- Alex's response requires attending to object features, determining if a response pertains to sameness or difference, working out the respective attributes, and vocally producing a categorical response.
Research Aim
- The aim was to assess whether Alex could use vocal labels to symbolize comprehension of "same" and "different."
Independent Variable
- Variation based on whether the objects were familiar to Alex or novel.
Dependent Variable
- The nature of Alex's responses to questions regarding sameness or difference.
Duration of Study
- Testing occurred over a span of 26 months.
Participant Details
- Involved one African Grey parrot, Alex, selected from an opportunity sample.
Model/Rival Approach
- The training involved a human trainer and a second human acting as a rival, asking questions and providing feedback while Alex observed.
Training Materials
- Objects used in training included shapes (triangles or squares), colors (red, green, blue), and materials (rawhide or wood).
Minimizing Demand Characteristics
- A secondary trainer supervised Alex's testing, while the primary trainer was present but not directly engaged with him to minimize bias.
Reinforcement Mechanism
- Correct responses from Alex were met with praise and rewarded with items.
Handling Incorrect Responses
- Incorrect answers led to Alex being told "No" and the removal of the object, with repetition until a correct response was achieved.
Indicators of Boredom
- Alex displayed boredom by ceasing vocalizations and engaging in preening behavior.
Ethical Considerations
- Housing in a cage overnight, using only one parrot, and ensuring Alex was not deprived of food for incorrect answers while provided extra if requested.
Training Outcomes
- Achieved understanding of color and shape labels within four months, and materials in nine months.
Familiar Object Results
- Achieved 70% correctness on the first trial, with an overall accuracy of 77%.
Novel Object Results
- Correctness was 82% for the first trial, with an overall accuracy of 85% (86% when one object was novel, 83% when both were novel).
Conclusions
- Parrots can comprehend symbolic concepts of sameness and difference; they can answer verbal inquiries with categorical labels, indicating that symbolic representation isn't limited to primates.
Strengths of the Study
- Conducted in a lab with standardized procedures, ensuring valid research with minimal bias.
Weaknesses of the Study
- Findings have low generalizability and ecological validity.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of parrot learning through the lens of psychology with these flashcards. Delve into concepts such as operant conditioning, cognitive psychology, and symbol representation used in animal learning. Expand your understanding of how these elements interact in the studies of Pepperberg.
