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Episode - 35 July, 2023
Host: Barbara Heidenreich
We talk about reinforcement all the time in animal training, but there are many different ways reinforcement can be arranged. Understanding some of these differences can give us more options when designing training strategies and help us think more carefully about why a particular approach might work well for a particular behavior.
In this episode, I explore several reinforcement tactics that don't always get much attention in animal training, including synchronous reinforcement, episodic reinforcement, and conjugate reinforcement, as well as the role of demand functions. I was inspired to dig into this topic after reading the paper Increasing Socially Significant Behaviors for Children with Autism Using Synchronous Reinforcement by Stordahl and colleagues.
Although the research involves human learners, the behavioral processes have interesting applications for animal training. I look at what these different reinforcement arrangements mean, how they differ from one another, and examples of what they can look like when applied to training animals.
One of the things I particularly enjoy about exploring behavioral science is discovering that we often have more options available to us than the procedures we routinely use. Different behaviors, individuals, and training goals may benefit from different reinforcement arrangements—or sometimes a combination of strategies.
If you are interested in going a little deeper into the science of reinforcement and adding some new tools to your training toolbox, this episode offers several interesting concepts to explore.
Recommended Citation:
Heidenreich, B. (Producer/Writer). (2023, July 30). Reinforcement Tactics. Different Types, What They Look Like, and How You Can Use Them. [Audio Podcast] Animal Training Fundamentals with Barbara Heidenreich.https://animaltrainingfundamentals.com/podcasts/reinforcement-tactics-different-types-what-they-look-like-and-how-you-can-use-them/
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Additional Resources Mentioned in the Podcast - Click Links and Images to Access
Stordahl, S. K., Cihon, J. H., Alai-Rosales, S., & Rosales-Ruiz, J. (2023). Increasing Socially Significant Behaviors for Children with Autism Using Synchronous Reinforcement. Education Sciences, 13(7), 751. MDPI AG. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/educsci13070751
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Host Bio:
About Barbara Heidenreich
Barbara Heidenreich is a zoologist and animal training and behavior consultant specializing in species managed in zoological facilities. She earned her B.S. in Zoology from the University of California, Davis. Barbara consults internationally with zoos, universities, veterinary professionals, and conservation programs and has worked onsite with more than 90 facilities in 30 countries.
In addition to her consulting work, Barbara serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Texas A&M University and operates AnimalTrainingFundamentals.com, a comprehensive online education program offering hundreds of courses on animal training and behavior. Her work focuses on applying behavior analysis to improve animal welfare through building behavior, contingency analysis, genuine choice, and constructional approaches to behavior change.
Barbara has authored two books, contributed to five textbooks, and co-authored two Fear Free® Avian Certification Courses. She advises the Animal Training Working Group and Parrot Taxon Advisory Group for the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria and serves as Co-Chair and founding member of the Zoological Association of America’s Animal Training Committee. She has contributed to conservation projects including the Kakapo Recovery Program and the Borneo Orangutan Survival Foundation and has received seven awards from zoological trade organizations recognizing her contributions to the field.
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