Question

Martina is an animal trainer at Sea World. To teach a new dolphin to jump through a hoop high above the water, Martina first reinforces the dolphin for approaching the hoop while it is under the water. Then, she reinforces the dolphin for swimming through the hoop under water. Gradually raising the hoop, Martina progressively reinforces each small step toward the goal behavior. Martina is using the process of ________ to train the dolphin.

a. punishment by application
b. shaping
c. partial reinforcement
d. observational learning

Answer 1

Martina is using the shaping technique in operant conditioning to train the dolphin by positively reinforcing successive steps toward the final behavior of jumping through a hoop above the water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Martina is using the process of shaping to train the dolphin. Shaping is a type of operant conditioning where the trainer reinforces successive approximations of a target behavior. By starting with the hoop under the water and gradually raising it, Martina rewards the dolphin at each step closer to the final goal behavior which is jumping through the hoop above the water. The dolphin's behavior is modified by the consequences, essentially the reinforcements or rewards, provided by Martina.

Skinner, a major proponent of operant conditioning, demonstrated how shaping could be used to teach animals complex behaviors. In animal training, positive reinforcement, like the use of food in Martina's case, is commonly employed to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.