If you want to train a killer whale to do a trick,what positive reinforcers would work best and when?
A) access to other killer whales about an hour after the whale correctly performs the specific behavior
B) removing an unpleasant sound right after the whale correctly performs the specific behavior
C) foods, toys, and back scratches right after the whale correctly performs the specific behavior
D) foods, toys, and back scratches about 3 minutes after the whale correctly performs the specific behavior

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Foods, toys, and back scratches are the most effective positive reinforcers for killer whales during and immediately after training sessions. These reinforcers should be given immediately after the whale correctly performs the specific behavior to strengthen the association between the behavior and the positive consequence. Delaying the positive reinforcement can make it less effective in strengthening the desired behavior. Access to other killer whales or removing unpleasant sounds may be effective in some scenarios but are not as consistently effective as food, toys, and back scratches.

If You Want to Train a Killer Whale to Do