Sniffy Lab Worksheet Exercises (60 points total)
You will complete four guided lab exercises/worksheets using Sniffy the Virtual Rat software. In these labs, you will work with a simulated animal research subject to gain hands-on experience applying behavioral concepts covered in the course, including classical conditioning, operant learning, and schedules of reinforcement. Detailed instructions for each lab are provided in the course materials and are designed to guide you step by step through setting up, conducting, and interpreting each activity. Each worksheet is worth up to 15 points.
Sniffy Lab Project (100 points total)
The Sniffy Lab Project is a three-part, culminating assignment in which you will design and conduct a mock behavioral experiment using Sniffy the Virtual Rat. This project is designed to mirror the standard process of behavioral research, including developing a research question and hypothesis, applying structured training procedures, collecting and analyzing behavioral data, and reporting findings in an APA-formatted research paper. Please refer to Canvas for the detailed grading rubric and additional submission instructions. Here are the components of the project:
1. Sniffy Initial Planning (10 points)
Part 1 serves as the planning phase of the project. You will select a target behavior for Sniffy to learn from a list of approved behaviors provided in Chapter 14 of the course textbook. After selecting a behavior, you will develop a clear research question and a corresponding hypothesis predicting how Sniffy’s behavior is expected to change as a result of the behavioral training procedures you plan to use.
2. Sniffy Observations & Data (30 points)
In Part 2, you will test your hypothesis by applying the selected behavioral training method in Sniffy. This phase involves observing Sniffy’s behavior prior to training, implementing the training procedures, and collecting relevant behavioral data. You are expected to use precise, consistent procedures and to document behavioral changes that occur as a result of training.
3. Sniffy Final Lab Report (60 points)
In Part 3, you will write a 5–6 page APA-style research paper that synthesizes your work from Parts 1 and 2. The paper should demonstrate your understanding of the behavioral training method, clearly describe your procedures and results, and provide a thoughtful interpretation of your findings. Your paper must include a title page, introduction, brief literature review, methods section, results section, discussion, and references page(s). The title page and references do not count toward the page limit.
Extra Credit Opportunity (5 points)
You may earn extra credit by attending SUU’s Writing Center, either virtually or in person, for feedback and support related to your Part 2 or Part 3 of Sniffy’s Final Lab Project, but not both. Upon completion, the Writing Center will send documentation of your attendance to the instructor. This documentation must be received in order for extra credit to be awarded.
Extra credit opportunities are optional and are not a substitute for required coursework. Participation is entirely at the student’s discretion. Any points earned will be applied toward the overall course grade, provided all guidelines and deadlines for the selected option are met.