I am delighted that we are starting out the New Year with a conversation with Dr Joe Layng.  Dr Layng is a behavior analyst who has over 40 years' experience in the experimental and applied analysis of behavior, with a particular focus on the design of teaching/learning environments. 

In Part 1 of our conversation Joe defined contingency adduction and shared several fascinating experiments that were done with pigeons.  Pigeons showed self awareness by passing the mirror test.  They demonstrated tool use and they left themselves notes so they would know which color key to peck after a long delay.  These experiments show that it is not a genetically based cognitive ability that determines whether or not an individual can solve a particular puzzle, but the component skills that are in repertoire.  This is true for pigeons, people and horses.

In Part two Joe describes a series of experiments showing how the manipulation of schedules of reinforcement changes social behavior.  In a very clever series of experiments Dr Paul Andronis demonstrated that pigeons showed perspective taking, theory of mind and symbolic aggression. 

These studies take us to a whole new appreciation of what animals are capable of.  As you listen to this episode, if you’re wondering how all these experiments with pigeons relate to horses, that’s one of the big ones.

Episode 218: Dr Joe Layng Pt 2: Schedules Of Reinforcement and the Effect on Social Behavior

In Part 3 of our conversation with Dr Joe Layng he describes symbolic aggression in pigeons and the “prisoner’s dilemma” solution that leads to the development of cooperation between two birds.  The social interactions were not trained by the experimenter.  They emerged from the non-social components that the birds were taught.  These studies have many implications for those of us who work with multiple learners. 

Joe’s descriptions of these studies also gives us the basis for understanding non-linear contingency analysis.  

This translates to an understanding that we are better off teaching the components that are part of complex behavior, rather than trying to teach the complex behavior directly.

Articles cited in this three part conversation:

THE SPONTANEOUS USE OF A TOOL BY A PIGEON 
ROBERT EPSTEIN and SAMUEL D. MEDALIE   
Behavior Analysis Letters, 3 (1983) 241-247

Contingency Adduction of "Symbolic Aggression" by Pigeons 
Paul Thomas Andronis Northern Michigan University, T.V. Joe Layng The New School for the Learning Sciences, and Israel Goldiamond The University of Chicago 
The Verbal Analysis of Behavior. 1997, 14 5-17

Spontaneous cooperation between pigeons: S o c i a l behavior selected by ontogenic consequences in the Prisoner's Dilemma 
P. T. Andronis

ON PIGEONS AND PEOPLE: A PRELIMINARY LOOK AT THE COLUMBAN SIMULATION PROJECT 
Robert Epstein 
The Behavior Analyst 1981,4, 43-55 No. 1 (Spring) 

The Role of Contingency Adduction in the Creative Act 
Nolan Williams 
The Psychological Record 
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40732-020-00440-z

Episode 219 Dr Joe Layng Part 3 Symbolic Aggression And The Origins Of Cooperation

Dr. Candice discusses the benefits of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with Board Certified Behavior Analyst and founder of FaTaj Transition & Learning Center, LaTeisha Jackson.

Ep. 106: How ABA therapy can help manage challenging kid behaviors

This is the fifth and final part of our conversation with Dr Claire St Peter.  Claire is a behavior analyst.  She teachers At West Virginia University where she has recently taken on a new role.  She is now Chair of the department of behavior analysis.  

We have been down in the weeds considering the definitions of words both trainers and behavior analysts use on a regular basis.  We started in episode 248 by asking what is shaping.  Last week we asked: what is behavior?  And now we are asking how do you define environment.  The answer begins with a surprise.

Episdoe 254 Dr Claire St Peter Pt 5- Define Environment

This is Part 1 of a three part conversation with Dr. Susan Friedman and Rick Hester.  Dr. Friedman has been a frequent guest on this podcast.  Most of you I’m sure already know Susan.  But just as a reminder, Susan is a professor emeritus in the Department of Psychology at Utah State University.  She is a pioneer in the use of Applied Behavior Analysis in the handling of captive and companion animals.  

Her interest in developing scientifically sound, ethical standards for animal care and training prompted our this current conversation.

We are also joined by Rick Hester.  

Rick is the curator of behavioral Husbandry for the Cheyenne Mountain zoo.  Rick overseas the zoo’s training  program for husbandry, medical and public show behaviors.  I value the perspective he brings to training.  When you work with horses it all too easy to think you have to rely on force-based methods for some medical and husbandry behaviors - and then you see what’s being done in zoos.  

We begin by talking about why it matters to have ethical standards guiding the training choices we make.  We are talking about training goals and strategies  that provide our learners with choice and a lifestyle of control.

Episode 284 Dr Susan Friedman & Rick Hester Pt 1 Why Ethical Guidelines Matter

You know you’re in for a great conversation when the guest for this week’s episode is Ken Ramirez.  For over thirty years Ken was the Executive Vice President Overseeing Animal Care and Training at the Shedd Aquarium.  He is now the Executive Vice President and Chief Training Officer of Karen Pryor Clicker Training.  

Those are impressive sounding titles, but they don’t come close to describing Ken’s talent as a trainer and teacher.  Dominique and I were delighted to be able to spend an afternoon with Ken shortly after this year’s Clicker Expo.  Dominique had a list of questions about keep going signals, treatless clicks and end-of-session strategies.  We begin with why Ken describes advanced training as the basics done really well.  Ken shares some great stories and then we jump into a discussion of keep going signals.

Episode 326 Ken Ramirez Pt 1 Keep Going Signals

Podcast all about kid's health with Pediatrician, Candice W. Jones. 

Equiosity is the podcast about all things equine with a special emphasis on the horse-human bond.

New tracks tagged #applied behavior analysis