My girlfriend is doing an animal management course and is doing a dissertation but she's struggling for ideas. She needs to do a basic test (nothing sinister or that would inflict pain!) and then complete a dissertation on it! Any ideas?
2007-11-12 06:59:29 · 4 answers · asked by Monkey's Forehead 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
It is possible for her to do a recognition and intelligent test. Most animals (domesticated) have a level of intelligence that can be measured or observed. Set up two straight runs and have a push door at one end. Hang a colored square on one door with some food the animal likes on the backside of the door. Have the animal come down the food side and push the door open to eat the food, make certain it is a small quantity of food. Then switch the color square to the other side of the run and repeat the process. When the animal gets the idea that the colored square door holds food it will search for that sign, and will probably smell out where the food door was at so it can get it. Her observations should complete the test.
Spartawo...
2007-11-12 08:59:36 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Experiment with a mollusk (snail or slug) and a strong magnet.
Find out whether being in a strong magnetic field will affect the direction in which the animal "chooses" to go.
Since your girlfriend is a scientist, I won't go into more details; but I will mention that I tried this informally, and the magnet does affect the movement of snails. You can't predict which way each snail will go, but there is a statistically significant affect when you do it with a significant number of subjects. It probably wouldn't work so well on an animal with a lower water content.
There is speculation that some migratory species use the earth's magnetic field to orient themselves. Maybe pigeons? Migratory butterflies? I don't know.....
2007-11-12 23:06:38 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Okay, positive reinforcement has to do with operant conditioning not classical conditioning.
First, you don't say which species she wishes to work on.
Second, you don't tell us what her interest is.
Third, this is a lousy place to look for ideas. A dissertation should be original and relevant. Do you really think anybody who has time to play around on this website can provide that sort of insight for your girlfriend.
Finally, if your girlfriend can't come up with her own idea, relevant to something a professor in her department is working on, she should drop out and let a space open up for somebody with an interest and brain to do their research. If she's having trouble now, what's gonna happen later when she graduates and can't find an idea.
2007-11-12 17:21:57 · answer #3 · answered by tiger b 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Why doesn't she do something that deals with positive reinforcement or classical conditioning?
Pavlov's Dog-esque, if you will.
2007-11-12 15:39:07 · answer #4 · answered by nixity 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋