title: Signalled Delay to Reinforcement in Delayed Matching to Sample

authors: Scafturis, Lauren

subjects: Signalled delay to reinforcement

abstract: Five hens were trained on a delayed matching to sample task. The retention intervals started at 0.25 s and were gradually increased until they were   1 s, 2 s, 4 s and 8 s in each session. At the end of training the fifth response to the sample stimulus (red or green square) extinguished the key light and initiated one of the delays which were quasi-randomly selected. At the end of the retention interval the comparison stimuli were presented: a red and a green square. A response to the comparison stimulus that matched the sample stimulus resulted in 3-s access to wheat. An incorrect match resulted in a 3-s blackout. There was then an intertrial interval of 10-s regardless of the trial outcome. Accuracy remained consistently high across all the delays. The percentage of correct responses at the 8-s delay interval remained above 70%. Once behaviour was stable a cue was inserted into the retention interval. The blue key with a cross on it signalled that a correct response would receive reinforcement delayed by 2.5-s. A yellow key with a vertical line on it signalled that a correct response would receive reinforcement immediately. It was hypothesised that signalling a delay to reinforcement would decrease response accuracy on those trials. No differences in response accuracy were found for the different cues indicating that the cue did not affect response behaviour. In the next condition the blue cue now signalled that a correct response would result in 0.5 s access to wheat. The yellow cue now signalled a correct response would be followed by 4.5-s access to wheat. Accuracy for the small and large reinforcer remained the same. Through each condition matching accuracy remained between 60 and 80% regardless of the length of the retention interval. It is thought the gradual increases in retention interval length during training may have been responsible for the maintained high accuracy.

text: Signalled Delay to Reinforcement in Delayed Matching to Sample Five hens were trained on a delayed matching to sample task. The retention intervals started at 0.25 s and were gradually increased until they were   1 s, 2 s, 4 s and 8 s in each session. At the end of training the fifth response to the sample stimulus (red or green square) extinguished the key light and initiated one of the delays which were quasi-randomly selected. At the end of the retention interval the comparison stimuli were presented: a red and a green square. A response to the comparison stimulus that matched the sample stimulus resulted in 3-s access to wheat. An incorrect match resulted in a 3-s blackout. There was then an intertrial interval of 10-s regardless of the trial outcome. Accuracy remained consistently high across all the delays. The percentage of correct responses at the 8-s delay interval remained above 70%. Once behaviour was stable a cue was inserted into the retention interval. The blue key with a cross on it signalled that a correct response would receive reinforcement delayed by 2.5-s. A yellow key with a vertical line on it signalled that a correct response would receive reinforcement immediately. It was hypothesised that signalling a delay to reinforcement would decrease response accuracy on those trials. No differences in response accuracy were found for the different cues indicating that the cue did not affect response behaviour. In the next condition the blue cue now signalled that a correct response would result in 0.5 s access to wheat. The yellow cue now signalled a correct response would be followed by 4.5-s access to wheat. Accuracy for the small and large reinforcer remained the same. Through each condition matching accuracy remained between 60 and 80% regardless of the length of the retention interval. It is thought the gradual increases in retention interval length during training may have been responsible for the maintained high accuracy.

year: 2012

title: The relationship between the 'push' and 'pull' factors of a tourist destination: the role of nationality - an analytical qualitative research approach

authors: Prayag, Girish

subjects: push factors

abstract: Using qualitative research techniques, this paper explores the relationship between the 'push' and 'pull' factors of a destination and the influence of nationality on these factors. These relationships were explored for a sample of 103 international tourists to Mauritius. The data were analysed by using (a) thematic analysis and (b) an analysis using the text analysis programme, CatPac. The results indicated relationships between specific motives, cognitive and affective images and it was also found that nationality has a strong influence on these variables. Different motives for visiting Mauritius were found to exist between different national groupings. Implications for use of thematic and content analysis, management of destination, marketing and tourist experiences are provided.

text: The relationship between the 'push' and 'pull' factors of a tourist destination: the role of nationality - an analytical qualitative research approach Using qualitative research techniques, this paper explores the relationship between the 'push' and 'pull' factors of a destination and the influence of nationality on these factors. These relationships were explored for a sample of 103 international tourists to Mauritius. The data were analysed by using (a) thematic analysis and (b) an analysis using the text analysis programme, CatPac. The results indicated relationships between specific motives, cognitive and affective images and it was also found that nationality has a strong influence on these variables. Different motives for visiting Mauritius were found to exist between different national groupings. Implications for use of thematic and content analysis, management of destination, marketing and tourist experiences are provided.

year: 2011

title: Body Image Attitudes amongst Māori and Pakeha Females

authors: Ngamanu, Robert Errol

subjects: body image

abstract: Research has shown that body image plays a principle role in predicting the occurrence and extent of eating disordered symptomatology. The term 'body image' has multiple definitions but is most commonly used to refer to self-perceptions of body weight and shape. Evidence shows that Western socio-cultural beliefs encourage females to strive for an extremely thin, unrealistically small figure. The difficulties obtaining this  thin-ideal  have lead to the development of body image dissatisfaction (BID). Because the thin-ideal is a Western construct, BID was thought to effect only Western, White women, however, research shows that body image concerns and consequently eating pathology are appearing in non-Western, ethnic minority groups where they were once unknown. This has been attributed to increasing contact between ethnic minority groups and Western cultural mores. This would suggest that the degree of attachment a minority individual feels towards their ethnic identity is likely to moderate the development of BID and thus eating concerns. This thesis compared levels of body image dissatisfaction amongst ethnic groups in New Zealand, focussing particularly on Māori and Pakeha. No differences were found to exist amongst these groups with regards to body image dissatisfaction and eating pathology regardless of ethnic attachment. The information found has consequences for clinicians working with clients of Māori extraction and those researching body image dissatisfaction in New Zealand.

text: Body Image Attitudes amongst Māori and Pakeha Females Research has shown that body image plays a principle role in predicting the occurrence and extent of eating disordered symptomatology. The term 'body image' has multiple definitions but is most commonly used to refer to self-perceptions of body weight and shape. Evidence shows that Western socio-cultural beliefs encourage females to strive for an extremely thin, unrealistically small figure. The difficulties obtaining this  thin-ideal  have lead to the development of body image dissatisfaction (BID). Because the thin-ideal is a Western construct, BID was thought to effect only Western, White women, however, research shows that body image concerns and consequently eating pathology are appearing in non-Western, ethnic minority groups where they were once unknown. This has been attributed to increasing contact between ethnic minority groups and Western cultural mores. This would suggest that the degree of attachment a minority individual feels towards their ethnic identity is likely to moderate the development of BID and thus eating concerns. This thesis compared levels of body image dissatisfaction amongst ethnic groups in New Zealand, focussing particularly on Māori and Pakeha. No differences were found to exist amongst these groups with regards to body image dissatisfaction and eating pathology regardless of ethnic attachment. The information found has consequences for clinicians working with clients of Māori extraction and those researching body image dissatisfaction in New Zealand.

year: 2006