Magazine Training: A classical conditioning procedure to create an association between the sound of the food pellet falling into the hopper and the reinforcing properties of the food itself.

Note: You will need to describe this process in your lab report. Take notes to indicate how long it takes you to reach the 1/4 association, the 1/2 association, and the 3/4 association mark. Jot down any other notes about Sniffy's behavior that you can use in your description later.

1. Start with a new Sniffy file.

2. Use the Save As command in the File menu to save the file under an appropriate name (ex. MagTrain) in the Sniffy Files folder.

3. Display the Operant Associations mind window by selecting it from the Mind Windows section of the Windows menu.

4. Note the Lab Assistant says "If you wish to issue a reinforcement, press the space bar or click on the bar."

5. Wait until Sniffy closely approaches the food hopper. Then deliver a food pellet.

6. To save time at the start, you may want to give Sniffy several pellets in rapid succession before he wanders away from the hopper.

7. After Sniffy has received several pellets, you can let him wander away a short distance before giving him the next pellet.

8. Keep an eye on the Operant Associations mind window. When the height of the sound-food bar reaches about one quarter of the way up the scale, you will receive a message that Sniffy is beginning to develop an association. Follow the Lab Assistant's advice and continue to reinforce Sniffy when he is near the hopper.

9. When the height of the sound-food bar reaches about three quarters of the way up the scale, the Lab Assistant will alert you that the association is strong enough to use as a reinforcer for shaping. Magazine training is now complete.

10. Save the file in order to save Sniffy's progress.