Instrumental Learning/classical Conditioning

[GSD FAN]

i am having trouble understanding these two terms, can someone please help by explaining each in plain terms and maybe giving some examples?

thanks

[Erny]

Instrumental Conditioning.

Basically, this is where every behaviour is reinforced, either positively or negatively. Eg. Dog told to "sit" dog sits, dog receives a reward. Dog told to "sit", dog doesn't sit, dog receives a punishment.

Instrumental Conditioning produces fast learning, but the problem is that it is very prone to extinction. In other words, if the regime has been followed but then the reinforcement (positive or negative) doesn't occur, training deteriorates.

That is why it is generally used in the early teaching (where only positive rewards are administered) and training phases. As training progresses, the positive reward is generally shifted to an "intermittent" schedule which is less prone to extinction. But a negative is always administered when an undesireable behaviour is exhibited.

Classical Conditioning.

This relates to learning where feelings and/or involuntary reflexes are concerned.

The common example is Pavlov's Dog. Bell rang, dog was fed. Repeated episodes of this simple process occurred. Until classical conditioning occurred (ie Bell rang, dog salivated even in the absence of food.)

An example of classical conditioning which happens to most dog-owners is the dog becoming excited when owner brings out the dog's lead.

Does this help you?

Edited November 18, 2007 by Erny

[squeak]

i am having trouble understanding these two terms, can someone please help by explaining each in plain terms and maybe giving some examples?

thanks

May I ask if you are doing the NDTF course? If you are, I would suggest emailing or asking one of the lecturers.