What should you include in your FINAL PAPER?

Your final paper is: An APA format experimental paper It will include an: Abstract Introduction: must reference information you include from readings or lecture! Method section Results section Discussion: Again, reference information you include from readings or lecture. References

Abstract Basically a 1 paragraph summary Write this LAST….it is easier This is very much like the last paragraph of your discussion Typically no more than 250-300 words (and this is HARD!).

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE!

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! An introduction to operant conditioning shaping: You should include a brief discussion of Shaping (definition) and rules for shaping Reinforcement vs. punishment and why to use positive reinforcement Cues, poisoned cues and stimulus control Why mastery or fluency of a behavior is important You MUST include a minimum of 5 references for this section. Only 1 can be a lecture Only 1 can be your book. The remaining 3 MUST come from the papers we have read over the semester

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! Brief Introduction to Dogs A brief outline of dog developmental stages and why it is important to know the stage your dog is in when training Individual differences in dogs: sex, age, breed or disability and why it is important to understand these differences when training Dogs attachment/attention to humans: how and why is it special

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! Functional analysis Define it Explain how it is used and why/when you might use it Describe the Canineality and SAFER tests Give an example of how functional analysis can be used for solving a behavior problem

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! Tie 1,2, and 3 above into dogs and teaching dogs: Operant conditioning can be used on many organisms Why use on dogs, particularly rescue and shelter dogs Importance of understanding theory of behavior analysis and not just learning training rules

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! Now a transition to your paper: “The present investigation/case study applies operant conditioning and functional analyses to a _____________ (describe your dog) and write a brief paragraph about what you did”

Introduction: Be sure and REFERENCE! BE SURE TO REFERENCE (USING APA STYLE) the information you are citing. Use the readings and our books! This is where students lose many points!!!!!! E.g.: ​Zapata,  Serpell & Alvarez (2016) showed that…. Recent investigations have attempted to map the genome for fear and aggression (Zapata, Serpell & Alvarez, 2016).

Method And Results

Your Projects You will report on a minimum of THREE projects. Each project should have a subjects, location, apparatus and procedure section, and a results section.   Your three projects must include: An initial shaping/operant conditioning project in which you taught at least TWO dogs a behavior (does not have to be the same behavior) A functional analysis such as the canineality or SAFER test for at least 1 dog (does not have to be the same dog as the shaping/operant conditioning project). An advanced skill such as Nose work Two of the cognitive tests we conducted An advanced chain You will describe the method and results for at least TWO different dogs for this project.

Method section EACH project should include: Subjects: describe your dog(s) (age, breed, history) Apparatus: describe our room, what toys, balls, treats, etc. that you used Procedure: use much of what you included for Test 1, then add what you have done since! Results go in the results section!

Results

Results MUST include Either a table or graph of your data for EACH type of activity (initial shaping, functional analysis, advanced activity) There must be at least three data points for EACH dog for the first project. You will want to demonstrate mastery or fluency of a behavior for each dog. Your results should DESCRIBE the progress across training sessions (in words) and refer to your graphs to support your answer. Graph your data On the X axis: trials or sessions or days On the Y axis: percentage/proportion of correct responses Try to plot one behavior per graph so it doesn’t look too cluttered  

Results MUST include The results of your functional analysis (the canine-ality), and any other assessments you did The test results may be given in a table showing the points for each sub-test and then the final score. In your narrative, give the number of points your dog earned in each phase of the test Describe the total points Describe what these results mean: What “color” level was your dog? Was your dog a more social dog, a more 1 person dog, or a dog that was more individual/preferred to be alone?  

You wouldn’t include Your signature like I did, but otherswise make a table like this

Results MUST include Results of the cognitive or scent task you completed Again, you should provide a table or a graph to visually display your data. Describe your results in words: What happened and what does this mean?

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Discussion Describe briefly your project and data again in a summary paragraph (tell the reader what you just told them!)

Discussion Tie back to the literature and your introduction! Did the functional analysis provide sufficient data? Did the treatments/training work? Why or why not and how did you know? Did your dog act like you expected? Why or why not? How did your dog’s disabilities or history (e.g., shelter) affect your dog’s behavior, and how did this influence your “treatment” Be sure and site at least five of the articles we discussed in class to support your analyses of your data.

Discussion Next: Critique your case study: What was well done what was NOT well done, and why? What would you change about how the class was run and why? (yes, really….let me have it!) What was well done and why? (so what would you keep).  

Discussion Final paragraph is like the abstract- a summary of the research project. Summarize your project (kind of like the abstract but a summary!)

Remember: REFERENCE as if you were writing any other term paper for a class Include your references in a reference section! I am looking for a great paper to nominate for the Laura Berk writing award…..do a good job and it might be yours!