Simple discrimination training and formation of functional stimulus classes by dogs

Authors

  • Camila Domeniconi Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Renato Bortoloti Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Leilane Cristine Krutzfeldt Antoniazzi Universidade Federal de São Carlos
  • Tássia Eid Nogueira Mendes Universidade Federal de São Carlos

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v12i2.10376

Keywords:

functional equivalence, simple discrimination, reversals, differential and specific reinforcement, dogs

Abstract

This study attempted to verify the establishment of functional classes and learning set in dogs through a simple discrimination procedure with repeated reversals that included specific reinforcers for each stimulus class. Two stimuli were presented in each trial and the subject had to choose one of them by jumping in its direction. After being training in such procedure, three dogs responded correctly in more than 90% of the test trials. These performances and analysis of the first responses in the test sessions provided evidences of the establishment of functional stimulus classes. Data from the repeated reversals training did not provided evidences of the establishment of a learning set by the dogs. The discussion examines whether the non-establishment of a learning set could be influenced by preferences for specific reinforcers. The procedure seems adequate and economical in investigations on symbolic potential of nonhuman animals.

 

Keywords: functional equivalence; simple discrimination; reversals; differential and specific reinforcement; dogs.

Author Biographies

Camila Domeniconi, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Professora Doutora no Departamento de Psicologia da Universidade Federal de São Carlos.

Renato Bortoloti, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Psicólogo, doutor em Teoria e Pesquisa do Comportamento pela Universidade Federal do Pará. Atualmente pesquisador associado do Departamento de Psicologia da Universidade Federal de São Carlos e bolsista de pós doutorado da FAPESP, processo # 07/51120-5.

Leilane Cristine Krutzfeldt Antoniazzi, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Aluna de graduação no curso de Psicologia da UFSCar, iniciação científica voluntária.

Tássia Eid Nogueira Mendes, Universidade Federal de São Carlos

Aluna de graduação no curso de Psicologia da UFSCar, iniciação científica Propg/UFSCar.

Downloads

How to Cite

Domeniconi, C., Bortoloti, R., Antoniazzi, L. C. K., & Mendes, T. E. N. (2008). Simple discrimination training and formation of functional stimulus classes by dogs. Interação Em Psicologia, 12(2). https://doi.org/10.5380/psi.v12i2.10376

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 2 (2008)

Section

Articles

License

The approval of articles implies the immediate acceptance, with no imposition, that the journal Interação em Psicologia will have the exclusivity of the first publication of the article. The authors will, notwithstanding, keep the copyrights for future publications. In case of republication of the articles in other media, it is demanded the mention to the first publication in the journal Interação em Psicologia. The authors also authorize their articles to be available in all the indexes of which the journal is included. 

The Editorial Board is not responsible for the concepts or statements expressed in the published works, which are the sole responsibility of their authors.

The journal Interação em Psicologia offers immediate open access to all its content, following the rationale that offering gratuitous scientific knowledge to the public promotes the democracy of knowledge and published works tend to produce higher impact. The published articles in the journal are available under the Creative Commons License CC-BY-NC 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/). According to this license, the access, distribution, reusing of the articles for non-commercial sources are allowed, provided that the authors and the source is referenced. When submitting articles to the journal Interação em Psicologia, authors agree with making their texts legally available based on this license.