Data Analysis and Overview

Using SPSS, I was able to analyze a wide range of data to find descriptive statistics as well as discover trends and progressions of such trends.

Weight

Although Rat weighed 232g initially, her target weight was set at 87% of her body weight (202g). Once the food deprivation state was complete, Rat's weight (M = 202.76, SD = 3.45) was adequately kept on target with the proper amount of food given per day (M = 7.81, SD = 2.04). There was slight variability in weight change per day but very little average change (M = -.38, SD = 4.96). Although variability existed in higher amounts than are ideal, the weight change per day varied nearly equally both ways, leading to an overall average weight that was extremely close to the target weight, nullifying the concerns of variability.

Weight Change as a Function of Food Given

Performance

By excluding shaping sessions, it is possible to view Rat's performance (i.e., the number of times she pressed the bar) from FR1 to FR20 and through to the end of her third extinction session. Her performance (M = 224.07, SD = 89.59) was quite impressive, and her variance shows the amount of improvement that she showed over time with a range from 99 to 404 bar presses. Rat's performance was facilitated by the use of reinforcements over the length of the training session (M = 28.33, SD = 32.16) and ranged from zero to 135 reinforcements. When compared to the minimum number of bar presses, the high maximum number of bar presses shows how quickly she progressed (y = 8.91x + 152.75) with a decreasing number of reinforcements (y = -5.17x + 69.71).

Reinforcement as related to Bar Presses