Hamish and Dougal have noticed some examples of conditioning in the border collies that they use on their farm. For example, the dogs have learned to herd sheep toward the barn if they hear a short blast on a whistle. The dogs also start drooling whenever they are allowed into the kitchen of the farmhouse, where they get really juicy scraps to eat. Which of the following describes their dogs' conditioning?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The herding behaviour, where the dogs move the sheep towards the barn after hearing a whistle, is an example of operant conditioning. This is because the behaviour is controlled by the consequences (i.e. reward) that follow it. The dogs have learned that moving the sheep towards the barn when they hear the whistle results in a reward, such as praise or treats. The drooling behaviour when entering the kitchen is an example of classical conditioning, where the dog's drooling is a conditioned response to the environment (the presence of food scraps in the kitchen). The dogs have learned to associate the kitchen with food and thus, their drooling is a result of this learned association.

Hamish and Dougal Have Noticed Some Examples of Conditioning in the Border