Outline what is meant by the term 'shaping'. Include an example from the study by Fagen et al. (elephant learning) in your answer.

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Feb/Mar 2025). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [2] Shaping is when behaviour is reinforced in successive approximation.
2. When a behaviour gets closer to the one that is being taught, the organism is rewarded.
3. The rewards are then given when each progressive step is completed (towards the goal behaviour).
4. [1] In Fagen, the elephants were rewarded with banana each time they got closer to the desired behaviour, for example, trunk here.
5. [1] (guideline identification) (e.g., numbers, species, minimising harm, housing, rewards/deprivation).
6. [up to 3] (explanation) as to why guideline adhered to/broken.
7. e.g., Tenzin: The study followed the guideline of numbers. The sample size was only 5 so it was kept to a minimum.
8. e.g., Tenzin: The study followed the guideline of species chosen. The purpose was to teach a trunk wash for elephants to help in TB management, so appropriate species was used.
9. e.g., Tenzin: The elephants had constant access to food/water outside of training. The elephants could walk away if they did not want to participate. No punishment was used in training/only used positive reinforcement.
10. e.g., Ambar: The study could be seen as possibly not following the guideline of housing. This is because the elephants were leg-chained to posts during some of the day so might have found it difficult to be sociable.
11. e.g., Ambar: The study could be seen as possibly not following the guideline of minimising harm. Elephants would only gain banana reward once a behavior had been performed/lured, which might have been stressful.