Category: Theory, Terms & Abbreviations ¤
  Author: M. Shirley Chong ¤
   Title: R+, R-, P+, P- ¤

Hi Everyone!
   An attempt to define the abbreviations:

R+ = positive reinforcement
   Anything the trainer GIVES to the subject immediately following a
behaviour which tends to increase the likelihood of the behaviour being
repeated. For example, giving a dog a slice of nuked hotdog for staying
in heel position.

R- = negative reinforcement
   Anything the trainer TAKES AWAY from the subject immediately
following a behaviour which tends to increase the likelihood of the
behaviour being repeated. For example, using a shock collar set very low
to continuously shock the dog until the dog moves towards the handler
(the dog is "turning off" the shock by moving to the handler).

P+ = positive punishment
   Anything the trainer GIVES to the subject immediately following a
behaviour which tends to decrease the likelihood of the behaviour being
repeated. For example, giving a leash jerk when the dog tries to pick up
a bit of garbage.

P- = negative punishment
   Anything the trainer TAKES AWAY from the subject immediately
following a behaviour which tends to decrease the likelihood of the
behaviour being repeated. For example, eating the piece of
garlic-roasted chicken when the dog doesn't immediately head back for a
recall.

OC = Operant Conditioning
   Operant conditioning is the process by which a trainer modifies a
subject's behaviour by controlling the consequences of that behaviour.
There are a series of observations about the nature of learning (R+, R-,
P+, P-, among others); the success of operant conditioning depends on
how closely the trainer conforms to those observations.

   Understanding the "rules" of reinforcement and punishment allow us
not only to train our various subjects, but to figure out WHY the
training is working or not working. 

M. Shirley Chong
The Well Mannered Dog
Grinnell, IA