Psychology
331.03: Laboratory In
Operant Behavior
Fall, 2008
Mon: 12-1:15 in
Felmley 327
Daily lab sessions in Felmley
230 (rat laboratory) as scheduled by groups
My
office is in the lab-Felmley 230A, phone is 438-4554;
TAs are available from 9-4 each day (click for contact info)
Goals for the Psy 331 Required
Texts Tests
Daily assignments
Group Project
Final Grades
Cheating
Special Problems
Daily Schedule and reading assignments
Important Information
Study
guide for Reading Assignment Readings
list
DA system slides
IACUC links
IACUC presentation
Instructions
for Laboratory Observation assignment
Welcome to Psychology 331.03 Operant Behavior
In this laboratory course you will encounter firsthand the basic theories
and some basic procedures for training, managing, and conducting research
on reinforcement, optimal foraging and the matching law. As a result of this class you should
become familiar with the basic animal learning research techniques, the matching
law, optimal foraging theory, behavioral contrast, and variables that alter
matching and optimal foraging.
This course does assume a basic knowledge of learning theories, including
classical and operant conditioning, habituation, and basic cognitive learning.
If you do not have this background: a) DO NOT panic; and b) strongly consider
purchasing the optional textbook to help you catch up. I have included the
chapters from this book as a guide for those who are "learning as we
go".
This course is structured so that you will find we move from a basic
introduction to the matching law and optimal foraging to more specific
theoretical issues involved with these models. We will also deal with ethical
issues surrounding animal research, and then tackle variables that affect
matching and optimal foraging, particularly when animals are in social groups.
As an upper division class, I prefer that we read original sources- that is, we
read the actual research articles, rather than a text. However, to ensure that
we all have a good basic grounding in matching law and optimal foraging, I have
included some textbook chapters in our readings packets. We will cover quite a
bit of ground each week - so please keep up with the readings.
PLEASE
keep this syllabus; it contains reading assignments, test dates, grade
information, and other items that will be of use throughout the semester.
The readings
are available on line. Click on the link for the
readings list, and
click on the link for the
study
guides that should be completed for each reading. The readings will generally be read in order,
but pay close attention to daily assignments.
back to top
Class activities and Grading
The format of the course includes both lecture tutorials and laboratory
sessions. We will have tutorials/lectures on Mondays during our regularly
scheduled class time.
Laboratory
Sessions: Students will be grouped into small groups (approximately 5 per
group). Each group will be responsible for conducting daily (Monday through
Friday) experimental sessions with your squad of rats. All members of the group
DO NOT have to attend each daily session. However, I expect that you will work
out a plan to share the work of the daily sessions equally. We will set up a
running schedule for all the groups, and I expect that groups will adhere to the
schedule. Each daily session will take approximately 1 hour (30 minute session,
plus time to get, weigh and return your rats). Your group will be responsible
for presenting data from your project at the end of the semester. Remember,
careful and steady running results in clean and highly valued data!!!
Lecture
Tutorials. The
lectures will be conducted in the classroom on
Mondays. All lab sections/groups meet each Monday for
lecture. The
lecture tutorials will focus on concepts, techniques, and issues critical to
operant conditioning, the matching law and optimal foraging.
Students are expected to participate in group discussions
regarding the assigned readings during this
lecture/tutorial period.
In addition, each student will be required to submit written
answers to the study guide questions for each reading each week. These written
summaries will be most critical for completing the tests- so keep them.
back to top
Tests
and Projects
There
will be two tests and one project/presentation required for
this class: The tests will be
given at midterm and approximately two weeks before the end
of the semester. The final project will
include a written APA style research paper and an oral presentation.
back to top
Daily
Work/Regular Assignments
There are two types of daily assignments:
1. Daily data collection. Each group must complete
daily data collection
session (Monday through Friday). Individual members of a group who do not
complete their assigned session will be penalized points. Your daily data will
be stored on a file on the computer. The TA will record each session to monitor
your running sessions. You will receive a total of
5 points each week if you have completed your assigned
data collection task. (5 points per week x
15 weeks). If you fail to complete a data collection session or task, you will
lose points for that session unless your absence is excused.
2. Reading summaries. Each student will
complete the assigned reading summary each week. Each week's
reading summary is posted online. It is your responsibility to
download
and complete each summary by the deadline (either handwritten or typed is
acceptable). These summaries will become CRITICAL
for completing both the tests and your final project. The literature
we read is tough, so to keep you on schedule for your readings, summaries
are due NO LATER than the Wednesday following that Monday's lecture.
There are a total of 15 tutorial summaries, 10 points each, for a total of 150
points. Summaries will be graded as:
Turned in by Wednesday of the assigned week:
15 points.
1-2 days late (Thursday or Friday):
12 points.
3 days late (the following Monday):
10 points.
4-7 days late:
7.5 points
more than one week late:
5 points.
back to top
Final Paper
Each group will be given a research project to conduct during the course
of the semester. Because you are less likely to be familiar with the design of an
operant conditioning animal behavior study, I have pre-selected
an eexperiment
that we will conduct across the semester. You will then be responsible for
writing up (in APA style) an appropriate final research paper
which includes: 1) an introduction (with literature
review) to your study; 2) a method
section; 3) the results and data
analysis; and 4) a discussion of your results.
The final project is worth a total of 150 points.
Points for this will be divided
into several categories:
Background literature review: 50 points
Method Section: 20 points
Data Analysis:
30 points.
Discussion: 50 points.
Total points for the project: 150 points
back to top
Final
Grades:
Grades
will be based on the following:
Tests
(100
points each) 200
points
Daily work/observations:
75 points
Final Project
150 points
Tutorials/Lecture presentation
75 points
Final
grades:
A: 598-650
B: 546-597
C: 494-545
D: 423-493
F: 422 or below
back to top
Any cheating will not be tolerated.
Cheating or plagiarism will result in an F in the course and referral to the
Student Code Enforcement Review Board (SCERB)
for disciplinary action. Cheating INCLUDES (but is not limited to): plagiarism
of both published and unpublished written work, having another individual take
or assist you with an online exam, taking an exam for or assisting another
individual with an online quiz, performing or completing a class assignment or
quiz for another individual or having another individual perform or complete a
class assignment or quiz for you. Cheating
is thus defined generally as representing work that is NOT your own as your work
or allowing your work to be represented as another’s' so that individual
receives academic credit. Violators
of this policy will receive a failing grade on that assignment or quiz, a
possible failing grade for the course, and referral to the department chair and
the SCERB for disciplinary action.
back to top
If
you have a disability, if English is your second language, or need other special
considerations, please see me as soon as possible (that's before the first
test!) to work out any special arrangements that might be needed. If you fail a
test, please see me as soon as possible. I cannot help you if you do not contact
me for help!
Please
Note:
According to University Guidelines: Any student needing to arrange a reasonable
accommodation for a documented disability should contact Disability Concerns at 350 Fell
Hall, 438-5853 (voice), 438-8620 (TDD). They are there to ensure that you receive
the help you need!!
back to top
Monday is
generally lecture/discussion day. You should have your reading(s) completed by this day
and be ready to discuss the reading(s) in class. ALL students are expected to
attend the tutorials.
Each
student is expected to assist with data collection 2 times per week for 45
to 60
minutes each session. You will work in pairs across
your group of 3 to 5 people. Two people
are required for each daily session across 5 days of the week. That typically means each person does 2 data collection
periods per week with their assigned partner(s).
Data will be collected 5 days per week (Monday through Friday).
Thus: you will attend at least one tutorial each week (on
Mondays, generally), and then complete 2 other assigned data collection times.
These times may or may not be during the scheduled class time (we will arrange
this across all students' schedules). Bottom line: We will spend 1.5 hours/week in tutorial, and then you will be responsible for up to
2 hours per
week in assigned lab times, as arranged with your group and partners.
Tutorials meet in FELMLEY ANNEX 327 (one floor above the lab); labs in Felmley 230, unless
otherwise noted. Reading
study guides and a
link to each of the readings may be found online.
Week 1: August 18th: Introduction to the
class and IACUC
Complete online IACUC training
Tour the lab begin to form groups
Week 2: August 25th:
Measuring Behavior
Work on observing behavior in lab by completing assigned observation tasks.
Week 3: Sept. 1st: No class
Lab work continues: work on behavioral observation tasks in lab.
Dominance tests begin; groups should be finalized.
Week 4: Sept. 8th: Basic learning
principles I
Begin baseline sessions
Week 5: Sept 15th Basic Learning
Principles II
Baseline Sessions continue
Week 6: Sept 22nd: From the horses
mouth: Herrnstein’s equation
Baseline Sessions continue
Week 7: Sept 29th: The Generalized
Matching Law
Baseline Sessions
Test 1 is handed out
Week 8: October 6th: Groups and Matching
Catch up on baseline sessions and data analysis
Test 1 is due
Week 9: October 13th: Two human
examples:
Intervention Week 1
Week 10: October 20th: Examples from our lab.
Intervention Week 2
Week 11: October 27th: Environmental and
social factors affecting matching
Intervention Week 3
Week 12: November 3rd: Dopamine, reward
and behavior.
Intervention Week 4
Week 13: November 10th: Dopamine and
dominance?
Intervention Week 5
Week 14: November 17th: Bringing it all
together:
Begin data analysis
Week 15: Thanksgiving: Even rats get a
vacation!
Week 16: December 1st: Data analysis
Data analysis and prep of final paper.
Week 16: Final Exam Week:
Monday, MAY 5th
Final exam: 1-3 pm.
Group presentations during final exam period; final laboratory paper due
at presentation.
back to top
