title: Timing of reinforcement during dog training

authors: Browne, Clare Melody

subjects: training

abstract: Research on dog-human communication has demonstrated that dogs are extremely responsive to human cues such as pointing, eye gazing and vocalizations. Because dogs are so receptive to such cues, it is reasonable to assume that subtle feedback from humans has an effect on the efficacy of dog training. Timing of reinforcement in the field of dog behavior has not been researched extensively. Research on other species has demonstrated that although animals can learn tasks with delays to reinforcement, longer delays result in longer average times to task acquisition and relatively lower rates of responding. The aim of this study was to examine owners’ latencies to providing reinforcers for their dogs’ responses during basic dog training. Video observations were made at three New Zealand dog obedience clubs. Fifteen people volunteered to take part in this study with their dogs. All participants were members of beginner classes and were videoed while training their dogs in class. Behaviors appropriate for examining the timing of reinforcement required a clearly-definable start and finish point, so ‘sit’ and ‘down’ were chosen for analysis. Times were measured between the owners’ commands, the dogs’ responses, secondary reinforcement (verbal praise), and primary reinforcement (food).
Preliminary analysis of data from seven participants shows that dogs were reinforced for responding correctly to 27% of commands. These events were used for timing analysis. In addition, the dogs responded correctly but received no reinforcer of any type for 31% of commands, they responded incorrectly to 2% of commands and 40% of commands elicited no response from the dogs. There was considerable variation across participants’ timing of reinforcement with the latency to deliver the first instance of reinforcement (secondary or primary) ranging from 0 to > 5 seconds. No significant difference was found between owners’ latency to deliver secondary or primary reinforcement (t (5) = −1.66, P = 0.16) or between the times taken to reinforce ‘sit’ or ‘down’ responses (t (5) = −0.65, P = 0.54) (first instance of reinforcement). Results showed a positive correlation between the time to the first instance of reinforcement and the proportion of incorrect responses (r (7) = 0.65, P = 0.12).
We conclude that given the wide range of latencies to reinforcement, it is possible that the dogs’ task acquisition was suboptimal at times. Delays to reinforcement may also give room for unintentional feedback to occur, particularly as dogs are so receptive to human-given cues. Ongoing research will attempt to address these questions.

text: Timing of reinforcement during dog training Research on dog-human communication has demonstrated that dogs are extremely responsive to human cues such as pointing, eye gazing and vocalizations. Because dogs are so receptive to such cues, it is reasonable to assume that subtle feedback from humans has an effect on the efficacy of dog training. Timing of reinforcement in the field of dog behavior has not been researched extensively. Research on other species has demonstrated that although animals can learn tasks with delays to reinforcement, longer delays result in longer average times to task acquisition and relatively lower rates of responding. The aim of this study was to examine owners’ latencies to providing reinforcers for their dogs’ responses during basic dog training. Video observations were made at three New Zealand dog obedience clubs. Fifteen people volunteered to take part in this study with their dogs. All participants were members of beginner classes and were videoed while training their dogs in class. Behaviors appropriate for examining the timing of reinforcement required a clearly-definable start and finish point, so ‘sit’ and ‘down’ were chosen for analysis. Times were measured between the owners’ commands, the dogs’ responses, secondary reinforcement (verbal praise), and primary reinforcement (food).
Preliminary analysis of data from seven participants shows that dogs were reinforced for responding correctly to 27% of commands. These events were used for timing analysis. In addition, the dogs responded correctly but received no reinforcer of any type for 31% of commands, they responded incorrectly to 2% of commands and 40% of commands elicited no response from the dogs. There was considerable variation across participants’ timing of reinforcement with the latency to deliver the first instance of reinforcement (secondary or primary) ranging from 0 to > 5 seconds. No significant difference was found between owners’ latency to deliver secondary or primary reinforcement (t (5) = −1.66, P = 0.16) or between the times taken to reinforce ‘sit’ or ‘down’ responses (t (5) = −0.65, P = 0.54) (first instance of reinforcement). Results showed a positive correlation between the time to the first instance of reinforcement and the proportion of incorrect responses (r (7) = 0.65, P = 0.12).
We conclude that given the wide range of latencies to reinforcement, it is possible that the dogs’ task acquisition was suboptimal at times. Delays to reinforcement may also give room for unintentional feedback to occur, particularly as dogs are so receptive to human-given cues. Ongoing research will attempt to address these questions.

year: 2011

title: Terrorism and religious fundamentalism: Prospects for a predictive paradigm

authors: Pratt, Douglas

subjects: religion

abstract: Although fundamentalism is neither new nor limited to one culture, globalized communications and recent political events have highlighted Christian and Muslim forms. Since links are often perceived between fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism, most commonly with respect to Islamic fundamentalism, it is desirable to delineate a model of fundamentalism which permits some degree of prediction as to its possible extension into political action. The term ‘religious fundamentalism’, it is argued here, can denote a type of worldview that can in fact be found in various religions of the world of today. Specifically, it may denote a shift in mentality from the relative harmlessness of an otherwise quaint, ultra-religious belief system to the readiness to pursue aggressively impositional, and in some cases terrorist activity. The article seeks to work out the details of these potential connections paradigmatically.

text: Terrorism and religious fundamentalism: Prospects for a predictive paradigm Although fundamentalism is neither new nor limited to one culture, globalized communications and recent political events have highlighted Christian and Muslim forms. Since links are often perceived between fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism, most commonly with respect to Islamic fundamentalism, it is desirable to delineate a model of fundamentalism which permits some degree of prediction as to its possible extension into political action. The term ‘religious fundamentalism’, it is argued here, can denote a type of worldview that can in fact be found in various religions of the world of today. Specifically, it may denote a shift in mentality from the relative harmlessness of an otherwise quaint, ultra-religious belief system to the readiness to pursue aggressively impositional, and in some cases terrorist activity. The article seeks to work out the details of these potential connections paradigmatically.

year: 2006-06

title: Kaitiakitanga o te Taiao - Reconciling Legislative Provisions and Outcomes for Māori

authors: Kennedy, Nathan Charles Karaua

subjects: Kaitiakitanga

abstract: The Resource Management Act (1991) (RMA) was heralded as internationally ground-breaking for its integrated approach, and for cementing 'sustainable management' as its overarching purpose. It was ground-breaking also for its recognition of First Nations’ rights and values. This includes directing decision-makers to recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, waters and treasured resources, to have particular regard to Māori customary practices, and to take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. The RMA provides for councils to transfer or delegate functions and powers to Māori, and for joint management arrangements.
In 16 years as environment officer for my iwi, I witnessed the failure of the RMA to protect Māori values and interests. This experience prompted me to undertake research to thoroughly investigate outcomes of the operation of the RMA for Māori. Two questions framed my research; the first asking whether kaitiaki have been empowered by the Māori provisions in the RMA, and the second seeking to determine overall outcomes for Māori from the Act.
Assessing such outcomes required an understanding of Māori values and interests, evaluation of the law, of the statutory plans that govern council administration of the RMA, implementation of these by councils and the Crown, and their treatment by the courts. To answer the two questions I present in this thesis a geographically focused study of two take (causes or significant issues) at Whangamatā, the construction of a marina, and the removal of mangroves.
I compare Ngāti Whanaunga experiences with those of Māori nationally. By doing so I provide the evidence base for an 'overall broad judgement' (as the RMA requires) that despite apparent empowerment by the Act and its statutory plans, Māori have suffered widespread and significantly negative outcomes under the RMA. Rather than being empowered, Māori struggle to participate in planning processes, and see ancestral values and interests eroded by waves of resource consent processes, in which effects on Māori are little considered.

text: Kaitiakitanga o te Taiao - Reconciling Legislative Provisions and Outcomes for Māori The Resource Management Act (1991) (RMA) was heralded as internationally ground-breaking for its integrated approach, and for cementing 'sustainable management' as its overarching purpose. It was ground-breaking also for its recognition of First Nations’ rights and values. This includes directing decision-makers to recognise and provide for the relationship of Māori and their culture and traditions with their ancestral lands, waters and treasured resources, to have particular regard to Māori customary practices, and to take into account the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi. The RMA provides for councils to transfer or delegate functions and powers to Māori, and for joint management arrangements.
In 16 years as environment officer for my iwi, I witnessed the failure of the RMA to protect Māori values and interests. This experience prompted me to undertake research to thoroughly investigate outcomes of the operation of the RMA for Māori. Two questions framed my research; the first asking whether kaitiaki have been empowered by the Māori provisions in the RMA, and the second seeking to determine overall outcomes for Māori from the Act.
Assessing such outcomes required an understanding of Māori values and interests, evaluation of the law, of the statutory plans that govern council administration of the RMA, implementation of these by councils and the Crown, and their treatment by the courts. To answer the two questions I present in this thesis a geographically focused study of two take (causes or significant issues) at Whangamatā, the construction of a marina, and the removal of mangroves.
I compare Ngāti Whanaunga experiences with those of Māori nationally. By doing so I provide the evidence base for an 'overall broad judgement' (as the RMA requires) that despite apparent empowerment by the Act and its statutory plans, Māori have suffered widespread and significantly negative outcomes under the RMA. Rather than being empowered, Māori struggle to participate in planning processes, and see ancestral values and interests eroded by waves of resource consent processes, in which effects on Māori are little considered.

year: 2017