Shaping Instructions:

1. Open file and use Save As to rename your file to save it as a different version (so you don't lose your magazine training progress if something goes wrong).

2. Display the Operant Associations mind window.

3. Go to Windows, then Cumulative Record, to display the cumulative record, which will graph Sniffy's progress during this portion of the experiment.

4. Select the Design Operant Conditioning Experiment command from the Experiment window.

5. In the dialog box that appears, select Bar Press from the Target Behavior section of the drop-down menu under Reinforcement Action. Click OK to close dialog box.

6. Note that the terms CRF and Bar Pressing appear in the cumulative record. CRF stands for continuous reinforcement, which means the program will automatically reinforce every bar press with a food pellet. The Bar Press notation means that the graph will record bar presses.

7. As your first step in shaping, give Sniffy a pellet of food when he rears up facing the back wall (the wall with the hopper) anywhere in the operant chamber.

8. Once Sniffy has begun rearing toward the back wall more frequently, gradually require him to rear closer and closer to the wall, ultimately only rewarding him when he rears with his front paws touching the wall.

9. Whenever Sniffy rears directly in front of the bar, there is a chance that he may press it. If he does, he will hear the magazine sound, receive a food pellet, and the bar-sound association will begin to develop. You will be watching the bar graph to see when the Bar-Sound and Action Strength bars indicate learning.

10. When the Bar-Sound column reaches 1/4 height, the Lab Assistant will give a message. Note the time at this point in the training.

11. Each time Sniffy presses the bar, watch closely what he does after eating the food pellet. He may press the bar again immediately, which means he is making progress. Allow him to continue pressing the bar as long as he will do so. However, if he rears more than twice without pressing again, continue reinforcing the rearing behavior, as he has not learned the bar press fully.

12. If you are patient, Sniffy will eventually press the bar 8 to 10 times in rapid succession. Note the time here. You may now stop shaping and allow the CRF program to do the work as Sniffy continues to bar press more and more frequently.

13. Sniffy's training is complete when the Lab Assistant indicates as such. Note final time and save the file.