title: Effect of response rates on non-distracted and distracted conditional discrimination performance

authors: Campbell, Toby Gwynne

subjects: fluency

abstract: Two experiments were carried out in order to see if higher rates of responding during training result in higher stability of accuracy in the face of distraction. In the first experiment hens were exposed to a repeated acquisition procedure where they were taught to peck a number of 3 key combination response sequences (chains). In the first condition hens had the opportunity respond at any rate, in the second condition delays between each correct response were used to reduce response rate. Each session was made up of two periods. During the first period (training), hens learnt to complete chains. The second period was a test period where a stroboscope was used to distract behaviour. Accuracy during each condition and period was measured. The number of trials and rate of reinforcement were held constant. This procedure was repeated in a second experiment in order to test if habituation to the stroboscope was occurring. During both experiments the stroboscope was found to distract behaviour during the test period. During training, accuracy was higher for the no-delay condition than the delay condition. There were no large differences in accuracy between the no-delays condition and the delays condition during the test period, this was the same for both experiments. The second experiment showed that repeated presentation of the stroboscope resulted in higher accuracy meaning that habituation had occurred. The findings showed that when rate of reinforcement and number of practices were controlled, rate of responding alone during training did not change the stability of accuracy during distraction which was unexpected.

text: Effect of response rates on non-distracted and distracted conditional discrimination performance Two experiments were carried out in order to see if higher rates of responding during training result in higher stability of accuracy in the face of distraction. In the first experiment hens were exposed to a repeated acquisition procedure where they were taught to peck a number of 3 key combination response sequences (chains). In the first condition hens had the opportunity respond at any rate, in the second condition delays between each correct response were used to reduce response rate. Each session was made up of two periods. During the first period (training), hens learnt to complete chains. The second period was a test period where a stroboscope was used to distract behaviour. Accuracy during each condition and period was measured. The number of trials and rate of reinforcement were held constant. This procedure was repeated in a second experiment in order to test if habituation to the stroboscope was occurring. During both experiments the stroboscope was found to distract behaviour during the test period. During training, accuracy was higher for the no-delay condition than the delay condition. There were no large differences in accuracy between the no-delays condition and the delays condition during the test period, this was the same for both experiments. The second experiment showed that repeated presentation of the stroboscope resulted in higher accuracy meaning that habituation had occurred. The findings showed that when rate of reinforcement and number of practices were controlled, rate of responding alone during training did not change the stability of accuracy during distraction which was unexpected.

year: 2012

title: Olfactory generalisation in dogs (Canis familiaris) trained to detect koi carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus)

authors: Barclay, Samuel Thomas

subjects: Behaviour Analysis, Invasive Species, Olfactory Detection, Canine Olfaction, Generalisation

abstract: Koi carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) are an invasive fish species that threaten the biodiversity and ecological health of New Zealand’s freshwater systems. To prevent the spread of koi carp, populations must be identified early so management methods can be implemented. However, the methods currently used to detect koi carp populations are either not suited to particular waterbodies, are too expensive, or are not sensitive enough to detect koi carp populations at low biomasses. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are an emerging technology for the detection of koi carp. Previous studies have shown that dogs can detect koi carp at a biomass of 9.3 kg/ha in aquaria water samples, well below the proposed 50 kg/ha threshold for ecological decline. The present study used an automated scent detection apparatus to present dogs with naturally sourced carp-present and carp-absent lakes. The use of lake samples presented a unique challenge to the dogs because of the large variety of distractor odours in a natural environment, potentially complicating the detection of koi carp. In Phase A, dogs evaluated two carp-absent lake samples spiked with koi carp scent at an ecologically relevant biomass of 310 kg/ha. All dogs met the criteria of a hit rate and correct rejection rate ≥ 80% on these lakes, demonstrating that dogs can detect koi carp amongst lake water distractor odours. Phase B presented dogs with 12 positive (carp-present) and 12 negative (carp-absent) probe samples interspersed among samples from the lakes used in Phase A. The dogs’ first responses to positive probes were examined to evaluate generalisation to koi carp scent in novel contexts, and negative probes tested the dogs’ ability to reject lake samples not containing koi carp. Accuracy was stable across Phase A (range = 76% - 84%) and Phase B first responses (range = 71% - 81%). This stability across phases was interpreted as evidence for generalisation. Overall, generalisation was observed, but these generalisation data are interpreted cautiously due to the complexity of lake samples. This complexity may have resulted in the dogs using cues irrelevant to the presence or absence of carp to make responses, such as the differing scent profiles of carp-present and carp-absent lakes. Despite these potential issues, this study acts as a proof of concept for the operational viability of dogs as a koi carp detection technology.

text: Olfactory generalisation in dogs (Canis familiaris) trained to detect koi carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) Koi carp (Cyprinus rubrofuscus) are an invasive fish species that threaten the biodiversity and ecological health of New Zealand’s freshwater systems. To prevent the spread of koi carp, populations must be identified early so management methods can be implemented. However, the methods currently used to detect koi carp populations are either not suited to particular waterbodies, are too expensive, or are not sensitive enough to detect koi carp populations at low biomasses. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) are an emerging technology for the detection of koi carp. Previous studies have shown that dogs can detect koi carp at a biomass of 9.3 kg/ha in aquaria water samples, well below the proposed 50 kg/ha threshold for ecological decline. The present study used an automated scent detection apparatus to present dogs with naturally sourced carp-present and carp-absent lakes. The use of lake samples presented a unique challenge to the dogs because of the large variety of distractor odours in a natural environment, potentially complicating the detection of koi carp. In Phase A, dogs evaluated two carp-absent lake samples spiked with koi carp scent at an ecologically relevant biomass of 310 kg/ha. All dogs met the criteria of a hit rate and correct rejection rate ≥ 80% on these lakes, demonstrating that dogs can detect koi carp amongst lake water distractor odours. Phase B presented dogs with 12 positive (carp-present) and 12 negative (carp-absent) probe samples interspersed among samples from the lakes used in Phase A. The dogs’ first responses to positive probes were examined to evaluate generalisation to koi carp scent in novel contexts, and negative probes tested the dogs’ ability to reject lake samples not containing koi carp. Accuracy was stable across Phase A (range = 76% - 84%) and Phase B first responses (range = 71% - 81%). This stability across phases was interpreted as evidence for generalisation. Overall, generalisation was observed, but these generalisation data are interpreted cautiously due to the complexity of lake samples. This complexity may have resulted in the dogs using cues irrelevant to the presence or absence of carp to make responses, such as the differing scent profiles of carp-present and carp-absent lakes. Despite these potential issues, this study acts as a proof of concept for the operational viability of dogs as a koi carp detection technology.

year: 2023

title: Experiences from the past inform the journey ahead: ‘a way of being’ - culturally responsive and relational professional learning and development.

authors: Murray, Tracy Olive

subjects: Culturally responsive and relational angragogy

abstract: This thesis begins by contextualising the current reality for many Māori learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.  By reviewing the literature around the role of the provider in professional learning and development (PLD) in Aotearoa New Zealand, this thesis seeks to explain a new way of working that has not been well documented before.  Provided is the rationale for the methodology undertaken in the research to ensure the relationship with the participants remained at the heart of the process.  This thesis contends that applying culturally responsive and relational pedagogy across all levels of schooling is a unique way of being that requires deep critical self-reflection and conscious ongoing change in practice.  Learning what to stop doing and what to do differently is part of an ongoing cycle of inquiry that educational leaders at any level must engage in, to implement change in schools for Māori learners.

text: Experiences from the past inform the journey ahead: ‘a way of being’ - culturally responsive and relational professional learning and development. This thesis begins by contextualising the current reality for many Māori learners in Aotearoa New Zealand.  By reviewing the literature around the role of the provider in professional learning and development (PLD) in Aotearoa New Zealand, this thesis seeks to explain a new way of working that has not been well documented before.  Provided is the rationale for the methodology undertaken in the research to ensure the relationship with the participants remained at the heart of the process.  This thesis contends that applying culturally responsive and relational pedagogy across all levels of schooling is a unique way of being that requires deep critical self-reflection and conscious ongoing change in practice.  Learning what to stop doing and what to do differently is part of an ongoing cycle of inquiry that educational leaders at any level must engage in, to implement change in schools for Māori learners.

year: 2018