Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2021
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Degree Type
BA
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
Kennon A. Lattal
Committee Co-Chair
Karen Anderson
Committee Member
Jeremy S. Langford
Abstract
Jackpot reinforcers are an intriguing yet seldom studied area of operant conditioning with many potential applications in the scope of behavioral research. In this study, two Siamese fighting fish (Betta s.) were presented with the visual stimulus of a mirror upon completion of a target response, providing the opportunity to display an agonistic behavior towards their own mirror image. This opportunity for agonistic display to the mirror served as the primary reinforcer of the target response, which was simply swimming in a particular direction over a bar suspended in the center of the tank. This over-the-bar swimming was shaped prior to the start of the experiment. Once the fish swam over the bar towards the front of the tank, it was presented with a mirror for 3 s. During the experimental phases, one of the presentations of the mirror had a significantly longer duration than the regular reinforcers, constituting the jackpot reinforcer. In addition to two baseline phases in which no jackpot reinforcers were introduced, two experimental phases introduced one random jackpot reinforcer during each session. In the first experimental phase, the jackpot lasted for 15 s and, in the second, for 30 s. Immediately following the introduction of the jackpot reinforcer, there was an increase in post-reinforcement pause durations lasting a short time. Overall, however, there was a slight decrease in post-reinforcement pause times and slight increase in number of responses following the first jackpot phase. Unique variables of this study are addressed in the Discussion.
Recommended Citation
Fox, Jackson Carter, "Jackpot Reinforcers and the Operant Behavior of Siamese Fighting Fish (Betta splendens)" (2021). Capstones and Honors Theses. 19.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/cap_theses/19
Included in
Animal Studies Commons, Applied Behavior Analysis Commons, Experimental Analysis of Behavior Commons