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! Introduce the concept of operant conditioning Define reinforcement vs. punishment Maintaining behavior: Schedules of reinforcement such as DRO, DRL, and DRH schedules Shaping and rules of shaping Functional analysis Define it Explain how it is used Give examples of its use Tie into dogs: Introduction to Dogs Why need to use operant conditioning/training with dogs, particularly rescue and shelter dogs Dogs attachment/attention to humans (might include a small discussion on Innate or learned? Dog development Effects of shelters on dogs and Special populations of dogs (here you can add deaf/blind if that applies) Segue: Present investigation applies operant conditioning and functional analyses on shelter/rescue dogs Brief paragraph about what you did

Method section Describe your subject (s) Age, breed, sex, name Background of the dog Describe the room and tools you used Large room: 24 x 30 ft with 12 x 12 platform 4” above floor in middle of the room Computers on desks and various chairs located at edges of room Large window on north side of room; entrance door on south west side; office on south east; holding room on north east. Describe treats and toys you used: Zuke's Mini Naturals Dog Treats Balls, etc. Social reinforcement Describe your procedure: Meet the dog; habituation time Initial training time Cannineality and functional analysis assessments Continued training Describe what you taught your dog to do and how you did it .

Results

Cannine-ality and Functional Analysis Make a table and report each score on each subtest Sum the score Describe the results briefly and give an overall assessment of the cannine-ality. These data should be in Test 1…..steal from there!!!!!

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

Behavior training In the body of the paper: Describe what happened in your results Did the percentage or proportion of 3’s decrease as the percentage or proportion of 2’s and then 1’s increase? Describe this!!!!! When did you know the dog had mastered the task- that is, what part of your graph shows mastery What part of your graph shows a change condition (e.g., the dog was absent for three days): did the data show a backslide in behavior? Point those out. Non statistics are needed! Repeat this process for each behavior you trained.

Behavior training Graphing Graph each command or type of training individually The X axis should be days of training. If you skipped a few days, or the dog missed a few days, show that by having no data for those days. The Y axis should be plotted from 0 to 100 (percentage) or 0 to 1.0 (proportion

Obedience training Graphing For EACH DAYS DATA for a particular task (say, SIT) Add up the # of 3’s the dog performed Add up the # of 2’s the dog performed Add up the # of 1’s the dog performed Sum all of these to get the total NOW: get the percentage divide the # of 3’s by the total Divide the # of 2’s by the total Divide the # of 1’s by the total For proportion, leave your numbers from 0 to 1.0 For percentage: multiple those numbers above by 100 (e.g., .3 x 100 = 30%) Plot the percentage or proportion of 1’s, 2’s and 3’s for that day (you can make three separate graphs or plot all on 1 graph using different symbols and linies) Repeat for each day you have data for that task. Repeat this process for each behavior you trained.

Moe

Discussion Summarize your data Cannineality; did it give you more information about your dog, how was it used Training: how did it go? What was successful and what was not successful How did you adapt to a different dog or dogs (if you did) What would you do differently if you had the chance What should Dr. FD do differently next semester to facilitate the dogs better?

Discussion Tie your results back to the literature we have read and discussed How was your dog (s) similar to some of the situations or dogs we read about? What theories or articles were most helpful for training your dog or gave you the most important information for working with your dog? What did you learn about Working with dogs Operant conditioning Yourself: How did you change over the course of the semester as a trainer? Why is (or is not) this class valuable for Psychology majors You The dogs 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? What was well done and why? (so what would you keep). Summarize in a single paragraph (like an abstract) what this paper was all about!

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!