Questionnaire about how horses learn - please help

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millienorth

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Hi

As part of my studies for an MSc I am conducting research in to the understanding amongst equestrians about how horses learn. If you are over 18 and have any experience at all of general horse management and handling I would be grateful if you would take the time to complete my questionnaire. It can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZV33CRN responses are anonymous and confidential.

Thank you for your help :)
 
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Tallante said:
What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?
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I interpreted it as 'positive punishment' - like a firm 'No' and maybe pushing the head away.
'Negative punishment' I interpreted as a smack or something similar.

But I may be wrong :)
 
Done!

I found the last question difficult, because different things work better with different horses. I have a horse that LOVES food, so it's a great reinforcer and another that prefers attention (rub and praise), so I couldn't really rank them correctly out of context.
 
Done!
I agree with Booboos about ranking the statements in the last question. Different things work with different horses.
I might also have skewed the research as although I have no equine qualifications, I am a teacher, have worked with a lot of children with SEN and do know a lot about learning theory.
 
Oh yes, I don't have equine qualifications but have training in clicker training in a dog training context so might have messed that one up for you as well!
 
Tallante said:
What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?
Click to expand...

I am with Tallante - Millienorth please can we have clarification of your interpretation of positive/negative.
Got half way through survey and was unable to complete as unclear of definitions.
 
polly1976 said:
I am with Tallante - Millienorth please can we have clarification of your interpretation of positive/negative.
Got half way through survey and was unable to complete as unclear of definitions.
Click to expand...

I think the point of the survey is to see whether people know these terms or not.

If you would like to find out what they mean see the link above.
 
Tallante said:
What is the difference between positive and negative punishment?
Click to expand...

I've always thought of them as postive punishment..as in +...means you are adding something, verbally or physically, so it's a shout, smack, yanking on headcollar etc. Negative punishment..as in -...you take something away as a punishment, food, water, freedom to move and so on.
 
Hmm, I have some reservations about this. Firstly I'm not convinced your objectives are covered by the questions you ask. You want to determine whether "learning theory is being correctly applied" but you ask for a vague response on whether you think certain methods of training are useful, and then for an example. The example is, I presume, to ensure that people understand what you're asking, which is fine. The former doesn't take into account the fact that different methods of training will be applicable for different aspects of training. I felt that I couldn't answer the questions accurately given the options available.
I also feel that the ranking is flawed, since it depends on the background of the horse in question - whether the horse has well established the connection between verbal praise and pleasant stimuli. Personally I wouldn't think of praising my horses for having stood up for the farrier, though I might praise them during the event. No option for that...
I also think that your results will be skewed by the interaction of professionals, teachers, scientists, who have no horsey qualifications - it would have been wise to ask for the provision of the level of education of participants surely? I think you will have more interaction from people in these spheres who have an interest in science, training and behaviour, partly by publicising on here and partly because such people are more likely to interact. I'm not sure you wil get an accurate representation of the understanding of behaviour in the average horse owner.
 
Sorry OP: exited the survey coz I needed some explanation of what you are getting at here, i.e "negative reinforcement", "positive reinforcement" etc.

You are using terms which I for one am not totally familiar with, although I'm probably actually doing it on a daily basis!!

I find it impossible to give examples about something which I'm not totally sure of the meaning of!!!

Sorry hun but this is way too complicated for my simple little mind!
 
JFTD said:
Hmm, I have some reservations about this. Firstly I'm not convinced your objectives are covered by the questions you ask. You want to determine whether "learning theory is being correctly applied" but you ask for a vague response on whether you think certain methods of training are useful, and then for an example. The example is, I presume, to ensure that people understand what you're asking, which is fine. The former doesn't take into account the fact that different methods of training will be applicable for different aspects of training. I felt that I couldn't answer the questions accurately given the options available.
I also feel that the ranking is flawed, since it depends on the background of the horse in question - whether the horse has well established the connection between verbal praise and pleasant stimuli. Personally I wouldn't think of praising my horses for having stood up for the farrier, though I might praise them during the event. No option for that...
I also think that your results will be skewed by the interaction of professionals, teachers, scientists, who have no horsey qualifications - it would have been wise to ask for the provision of the level of education of participants surely? I think you will have more interaction from people in these spheres who have an interest in science, training and behaviour, partly by publicising on here and partly because such people are more likely to interact. I'm not sure you wil get an accurate representation of the understanding of behaviour in the average horse owner.
Click to expand...

Exactly my thoughts especially the part in red
 
Oh dear, despite having studied this in great detail when I did my degree I had managed to forget what positive and negative punishment were (just read Booboos' link and what I put in the survey was a load of rubbish!).
 
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