Elephant Learning
Psychology being Investigated
. operation conditioning - a theory of learning where behavior is
influenced by its consequences
Behavior that is rewarded will likely be repeated, and behavior that is punished
will occur less frequently
The study shows that elephants can learn complicated tasks step by step when
they are rewarded and that they can learn these skills in their natural
environment
. positive reinforcement - involving rewarding desirable behaviour to
encourage it to be repeated
The study emphasizes the effectiveness of positive reinforcement in shaping
animal behavior.
. secondary positive reinforcement - training technique that uses a
secondary inforcer
A primary reinforcer is a reward that naturally encourages a behavior because it
meets a basic need, e.g. chopped bananas acts as the primary reinforcer in this
4 study as they satisfy an elephant’s hunger.
A secondary reinforcer doesn’t directly meet a basic need but becomes
rewarding because it is linked to something that does, e.g. the whistle acts as a
secondary reinforcer because it is associated with the arrival of the chopped
bananas.
. training methods & animal welfare
Gentle training methods like SPR reduce stress and improve cooperation.
This study shows SPR helps elephants willingly take part in tuberculosis
testing, supporting a more ethical approach to animal care.
3
Background
-Traditional elephant training in Nepal heavily relies on punishment
-Therefore, in order to avoid using traditional methods such as punishment,
Fagen studied SPR training to teach elephants to willingly and consistently take
part in a trunk washing procedure for their health.
2
Aim
To see whether traditionally trained elephants can be trained to participate in a
trunk wash by using secondary positive reinforcement.
Method
research method and design
1 -controlled observation, researchers observed and recorded the elephants’
behavior during the training process without manipulating other variables in the
environment.
, -structured observation - researchers used a behavioural checklist with
behaviors that they wish to see or they wish the elephants to learn
sample
sampling technique - opportunity sampling
a small sample of five female Asian elephants, with four juveniles (aged 5 to 7
years old) and one adult elephant (estimated to be in her 50s)
All elephants were housed at the same elephant stable in Nepal.
researchers selected elephants that were readily available and met certain
criteria
The elephants' diet was fresh grasses, grain and nutritional supplements and
they were given access to water at a river during grazing hours
experimental design
researchers used a pre-post design (measurements are taken before and after
the training intervention to see its effects) with repeated measures
The repeated measures aspect means the same elephants were tested before
and after the SPR training, allowing direct comparisons of their behavior.
independent variable - the implementation of the SPR training technique
dependent variable - Training session duration
Number of offers
Percentage of correct responses
Total time spent on training
Overall improvement in performance
procedure
The method of training used was SPR, with chopped banana as the primary
reinforcer and a whistle blow as the secondary reinforcer.
Training was conducted during the mornings and afternoons by a trainer while
the elephants were chained in their stalls, with the mahout (person who works
with an elephant) present for safety.
the mahouts stood to the side and did not speak to or signal to the elephants,
this ensured that any changes were only due to the SPR training.
No elephant went longer than two days without a training session.
Elephants could choose not to engage with a session by turning or walking
away from the trainer.
To ensure the elephants would not drink the saline solution or water used for
the trunk wash, they were offered water before each session.
The training taught elephants to voluntarily do a trunk wash in steps, moving
their trunks when asked.
after establishing the marker-reward relationships, elephants were taught using
three methods:
-capture: Waiting for an animal to naturally do a behavior, then rewarding it to
reinforce it.
-lure: For unnatural behaviors, the animal is guided into the desired position
by placing a reward in a specific spot.
Psychology being Investigated
. operation conditioning - a theory of learning where behavior is
influenced by its consequences
Behavior that is rewarded will likely be repeated, and behavior that is punished
will occur less frequently
The study shows that elephants can learn complicated tasks step by step when
they are rewarded and that they can learn these skills in their natural
environment
. positive reinforcement - involving rewarding desirable behaviour to
encourage it to be repeated
The study emphasizes the effectiveness of positive reinforcement in shaping
animal behavior.
. secondary positive reinforcement - training technique that uses a
secondary inforcer
A primary reinforcer is a reward that naturally encourages a behavior because it
meets a basic need, e.g. chopped bananas acts as the primary reinforcer in this
4 study as they satisfy an elephant’s hunger.
A secondary reinforcer doesn’t directly meet a basic need but becomes
rewarding because it is linked to something that does, e.g. the whistle acts as a
secondary reinforcer because it is associated with the arrival of the chopped
bananas.
. training methods & animal welfare
Gentle training methods like SPR reduce stress and improve cooperation.
This study shows SPR helps elephants willingly take part in tuberculosis
testing, supporting a more ethical approach to animal care.
3
Background
-Traditional elephant training in Nepal heavily relies on punishment
-Therefore, in order to avoid using traditional methods such as punishment,
Fagen studied SPR training to teach elephants to willingly and consistently take
part in a trunk washing procedure for their health.
2
Aim
To see whether traditionally trained elephants can be trained to participate in a
trunk wash by using secondary positive reinforcement.
Method
research method and design
1 -controlled observation, researchers observed and recorded the elephants’
behavior during the training process without manipulating other variables in the
environment.
, -structured observation - researchers used a behavioural checklist with
behaviors that they wish to see or they wish the elephants to learn
sample
sampling technique - opportunity sampling
a small sample of five female Asian elephants, with four juveniles (aged 5 to 7
years old) and one adult elephant (estimated to be in her 50s)
All elephants were housed at the same elephant stable in Nepal.
researchers selected elephants that were readily available and met certain
criteria
The elephants' diet was fresh grasses, grain and nutritional supplements and
they were given access to water at a river during grazing hours
experimental design
researchers used a pre-post design (measurements are taken before and after
the training intervention to see its effects) with repeated measures
The repeated measures aspect means the same elephants were tested before
and after the SPR training, allowing direct comparisons of their behavior.
independent variable - the implementation of the SPR training technique
dependent variable - Training session duration
Number of offers
Percentage of correct responses
Total time spent on training
Overall improvement in performance
procedure
The method of training used was SPR, with chopped banana as the primary
reinforcer and a whistle blow as the secondary reinforcer.
Training was conducted during the mornings and afternoons by a trainer while
the elephants were chained in their stalls, with the mahout (person who works
with an elephant) present for safety.
the mahouts stood to the side and did not speak to or signal to the elephants,
this ensured that any changes were only due to the SPR training.
No elephant went longer than two days without a training session.
Elephants could choose not to engage with a session by turning or walking
away from the trainer.
To ensure the elephants would not drink the saline solution or water used for
the trunk wash, they were offered water before each session.
The training taught elephants to voluntarily do a trunk wash in steps, moving
their trunks when asked.
after establishing the marker-reward relationships, elephants were taught using
three methods:
-capture: Waiting for an animal to naturally do a behavior, then rewarding it to
reinforce it.
-lure: For unnatural behaviors, the animal is guided into the desired position
by placing a reward in a specific spot.
