title: The Effects of Delayed Positive Reinforcement on Learning in Dogs

authors: Browne, Clare Melody

abstract: Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have lived closely with humans for thousands of years. Successful dog training is important for dogs to fulfil the many roles that they play within human societies, and to aid good human-dog relationships and thus the welfare of both parties. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the interactions that take place between humans and dogs during training, with a particular focus on the timing of positive reinforcement delivery.
The first two studies examined sources of dog training information. Dog owners and trainers rated their own personal experiences as being the most valuable source of dog training information, followed closely by free or low-cost resources such as books, discussions with other owners or trainers, and the Internet. The second study examined the content of five popular dog training books, and found that some of the information on aspects of learning theory and human-given cues presented in these books was supported by academic literature; however, inconsistencies were found across the books. Not all of the books contained enough information to enable readers to replicate their training advice.
The third study in this thesis used video observations of owners and their dogs at dog training clubs to investigate the timing of positive reinforcement during training. Dogs failed to respond to 44.20% of their owners’ commands. Typically, conditioned reinforcement (e.g., verbal praise) was delivered first (average delay was 0.62 s), followed by unconditioned reinforcement (average delay was 0.98 s). This suggests that delayed reinforcement is commonplace in real-life dog training.
Study four examined the effects of delays on dogs’ learning in a laboratory setting. When unconditioned positive reinforcement was delayed by 1 s, only 25.00% of dogs learned the task, whereas 60.00% of dogs who received immediate unconditioned reinforcement learned. Forty percent of dogs who received immediate conditioned reinforcement and unconditioned reinforcement delayed by 1 s, learned the task. These findings show that dogs’ learning is affected negatively by delayed positive reinforcement.
The final study aimed to determine how dogs are able to learn in everyday dog training situations if delayed positive reinforcement is both a common occurrence and detrimental to dogs’ learning. Observations of owners training their dogs revealed that owners gave signals in the form of body movements such as hand gestures prior to providing any intentional feedback (e.g., verbal praise) to their dogs in 75.26% of trials (average delay was 0.31 s), which may bridge the temporal gap between dogs’ responses and delayed reinforcement, thus aiding dogs’ learning.
Overall findings from this thesis suggest that delays to positive reinforcement are detrimental to dogs’ learning. Advice to dog owners and trainers should emphasise speed and consistency when delivering feedback to dogs.

text: The Effects of Delayed Positive Reinforcement on Learning in Dogs Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) have lived closely with humans for thousands of years. Successful dog training is important for dogs to fulfil the many roles that they play within human societies, and to aid good human-dog relationships and thus the welfare of both parties. The overall aim of this thesis was to investigate the interactions that take place between humans and dogs during training, with a particular focus on the timing of positive reinforcement delivery.
The first two studies examined sources of dog training information. Dog owners and trainers rated their own personal experiences as being the most valuable source of dog training information, followed closely by free or low-cost resources such as books, discussions with other owners or trainers, and the Internet. The second study examined the content of five popular dog training books, and found that some of the information on aspects of learning theory and human-given cues presented in these books was supported by academic literature; however, inconsistencies were found across the books. Not all of the books contained enough information to enable readers to replicate their training advice.
The third study in this thesis used video observations of owners and their dogs at dog training clubs to investigate the timing of positive reinforcement during training. Dogs failed to respond to 44.20% of their owners’ commands. Typically, conditioned reinforcement (e.g., verbal praise) was delivered first (average delay was 0.62 s), followed by unconditioned reinforcement (average delay was 0.98 s). This suggests that delayed reinforcement is commonplace in real-life dog training.
Study four examined the effects of delays on dogs’ learning in a laboratory setting. When unconditioned positive reinforcement was delayed by 1 s, only 25.00% of dogs learned the task, whereas 60.00% of dogs who received immediate unconditioned reinforcement learned. Forty percent of dogs who received immediate conditioned reinforcement and unconditioned reinforcement delayed by 1 s, learned the task. These findings show that dogs’ learning is affected negatively by delayed positive reinforcement.
The final study aimed to determine how dogs are able to learn in everyday dog training situations if delayed positive reinforcement is both a common occurrence and detrimental to dogs’ learning. Observations of owners training their dogs revealed that owners gave signals in the form of body movements such as hand gestures prior to providing any intentional feedback (e.g., verbal praise) to their dogs in 75.26% of trials (average delay was 0.31 s), which may bridge the temporal gap between dogs’ responses and delayed reinforcement, thus aiding dogs’ learning.
Overall findings from this thesis suggest that delays to positive reinforcement are detrimental to dogs’ learning. Advice to dog owners and trainers should emphasise speed and consistency when delivering feedback to dogs.

year: 2015

title: The impacts of liquor outlets in Manukau City: Summary report

authors: Cameron, Michael Patrick

subjects: liquor outlets

abstract: There has been significant recent debate over the impact of liquor outlets on communities in New Zealand. This report summarises the key results from a research project undertaken between 2008 and 2010. Media analysis and research with community stakeholders confirm that the issue is a focus of concern among communities in New Zealand. In Manukau City, off-licence liquor outlets tend to be located in areas of high social deprivation and high population density, while on-licence liquor outlets tend to be located in main centres and areas of high amenity value. Higher off-licence density is associated with lower alcohol prices and longer opening hours. The density of both off-licence and onlicence liquor outlets is associated with a range of social harms, including various police events and motor vehicle accidents. However, these results are context specific and care should be taken in applying them to other locations.

text: The impacts of liquor outlets in Manukau City: Summary report There has been significant recent debate over the impact of liquor outlets on communities in New Zealand. This report summarises the key results from a research project undertaken between 2008 and 2010. Media analysis and research with community stakeholders confirm that the issue is a focus of concern among communities in New Zealand. In Manukau City, off-licence liquor outlets tend to be located in areas of high social deprivation and high population density, while on-licence liquor outlets tend to be located in main centres and areas of high amenity value. Higher off-licence density is associated with lower alcohol prices and longer opening hours. The density of both off-licence and onlicence liquor outlets is associated with a range of social harms, including various police events and motor vehicle accidents. However, these results are context specific and care should be taken in applying them to other locations.

year: 2010-03

title: The Treaty of Waitangi and Research Ethics in Aotearoa

authors: Hudson, Maui

subjects: Treaty of Waitangi

abstract: Researchers, when engaging with Māori communities, are in a process of relationship building and this process can be guided by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, partnership, participation and protection. The main concerns for many indigenous peoples in research revolve around respect for their indigenous rights, control over research processes and reciprocity within research relationships to ensure that equitable benefits are realised within indigenous groups. Māori have identified similar issues and these concerns can be aligned with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. The relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi to research ethics is discussed and this paper suggests a revised interpretation of the treaty principles to incorporate the range of ethical issues that Māori have expressed as important.

text: The Treaty of Waitangi and Research Ethics in Aotearoa Researchers, when engaging with Māori communities, are in a process of relationship building and this process can be guided by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi, partnership, participation and protection. The main concerns for many indigenous peoples in research revolve around respect for their indigenous rights, control over research processes and reciprocity within research relationships to ensure that equitable benefits are realised within indigenous groups. Māori have identified similar issues and these concerns can be aligned with the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. The relevance of the Treaty of Waitangi to research ethics is discussed and this paper suggests a revised interpretation of the treaty principles to incorporate the range of ethical issues that Māori have expressed as important.

year: 2009