How To Shape Sniffy's Behavior

#1) Shaping (also known as the successive approximation), in psychology, is linked to a behavioral procedure widely referred to as operant training. During shaping, the animal elicits consequential behavior, resultant of the trained desired response during a series of reinforcing trials to emulate the objective behavioral response. In other words, shaping assists experimenters in setting particular goals to reach a preferred behavior. For instance, while attempting to shape Sniffy’s behavior, I employed the successive approximation method. Initially, the goal behavior for Sniffy was to associate the bar press sound to the food pellet dispenser; hence, magazine training. Once Sniffy proceeded to get closer to the food pellet dispenser, I rewarded him with a food pellet by pressing the bar. After many attempts to reinforce the sound of the bar administering a food pellet to shape Sniffy’s response, the association was made, and Sniffy eventually bar pressed
The magazine training process is critical when attempting to shape an animal's behavior. During this time, experimenters associate the sound of the bar press linked to dispense the food pellet. The operant chamber transitions as the secondary reinforcer by simply connecting the sound of the bar press to distribute food pellets.

#3) The shaping method I employed to get Sniffy to bar press was largely attributed to the Sniffy Lab Assistant window. As advised, when Sniffy came close to the food dispenser, I would bar press. After many attempts of reinforcing the sound of the bar press dispensing the food pellet, I employed Dr. Leon’s method and began to be stingy with the food pellets once the association with the sound of the bar press was established. Once the desired behavioral response was created, soon after, Sniffy would consistently bar press for food pellets in the region of two hours in