Are_large_dogs_smarter_than_sm

Page 1: Title and Author

• Title: Are Large Dogs Smarter Than Small Dogs? Investigating Within Species Differences in Large and Small Dogs: Spatial Memory

• Author: Megan S. Broadway

• Affiliation: University of Southern Mississippi

• Degree: Master of Arts

• Date: December 11, 2015

• Access: Available on Aquila Digital Community

Page 2: Copyright Notice

• Copyright Status: All rights reserved

• Quality Dependence: Quality of reproduction is dependent on the original submission.

• ProQuest Information: Reproduction protected under Title 17, US Copyright Law.

• ProQuest Number: 1602655

Page 3: Thesis Submission

• Thesis Submitted To: Graduate School and Department of Psychology at The University of Southern Mississippi

• Committee Members:

  • Dr. Heidi Lyn (Chair)

  • Dr. Stanley A. Kuczaj II

  • Dr. Richard S. Mohn

  • Dr. Karen S. Coats (Dean of the Graduate School)

Page 4: Abstract

• Research Focus: Studying canine cognition to understand cognitive abilities' development affected by artificial selection among dog breeds.

• Key Findings: No broad cognitive differences between large and small dogs were identified, although slight differences were observed based on sex and spay/neuter status.

• Conclusion: Performance disparities in cognitive tasks may stem from experiential factors rather than physiological size-related differences.

Page 5: Acknowledgments

• Acknowledgments: Appreciation expressed to Humane Society of South Mississippi for participant support, undergraduate students for assistance, and Dr. Heidi Lyn for guidance.

Page 6: Table of Contents

• Chapters:

  • Chapter I: Introduction

  • Chapter II: Methods

  • Chapter III: Results

  • Chapter IV: Discussion

  • Appendix and References

Page 7: List of Tables

• Table 1: Description of subjects

Page 8: List of Illustrations

• Figures:

  • Experimental arrangement and task results

  • Graphs indicating performances across differential groups

Page 9: List of Abbreviations

• Abbreviations Used:

  • CCCAA: Comparative Cognition and Communication Assessment Array

  • PCTB: Primate Cognitive Test Battery

  • HSSM: Humane Society of South Mississippi

Page 10: Chapter I - Introduction

• Goal of Comparative Psychology: Understanding evolution's role in cognitive abilities related to social environments.

• Importance of Dogs: Models for understanding genetic research and cognitive evolution through domestication.

Page 11: Physical and Behavioral Diversity

• Canis Familiaris: Unique variation in size and behavior due to specific historical breeding practices.

Page 12: Domestication Comparison

• Comparative Studies: Dogs and wolves exhibit similar cognitive abilities when raised in controlled conditions.

Page 13: Breed-based Cognitive Differences

• Perception of Intelligence Among Breeds: Insights into breed traits and trainability underpinned by breed selection rather than cognitive differences.

Page 14: Size and Perceived Intelligence

• Genetic Regulation of Size: Small set of genes influencing size classifications affect perceptions of intelligence among breeds.

Page 15: Health Issues Relating to Size

• Health Risks: Selective breeding creates vulnerabilities in large and small dogs leading to various health concerns.

Page 16: Skull Morphology Differences

• Effects of Selective Breeding: Changes in skull shape affect sensory capabilities and potential cognitive functions.

Page 17: Vision and Cognitive Function

• Skull Shape Impact: Differences in eye positioning affect potential visual skills and cognitive strategies in dogs.

Page 18: Overview of Previous Studies

• Findings from Studies: Aggregate results indicate changes in cognitive abilities between dog sizes, specifically regarding task performance.

Page 19: Training and Experience

• Impact of Training: Large and small dogs experience different degrees of training influence cognitive performance, affecting task outcomes.

Page 20: Working vs Non-working Breeds

• Effect of Working Status: Cognitive performance may align more closely with type of training and breed category rather than size alone.

Page 21: Influence of Size on Cognitive Tasks

• Cognitive Performance: Spatial memory tasks are less impacted while exploring broader variables such as size and sex.

Page 22: Definition of Cognitive Tasks

• Cognitive Tasks Overview: Spatial memory and object permanence are critical in higher cognitive functions studies.

Page 23: Methodology in Cognitive Assessment

• Approaches to Testing: Varied methodologies incorporate essential object permanence assessments in dogs and other species.

Page 24: Visible Displacement Tasks in Dogs

• Cognitive Testing Procedures: Dogs demonstrate capabilities in visible displacement tasks with significant variation in methodology affecting results.

Page 25: Advanced Cognitive Assessments

• Transposition Tasks and Findings: Dogs react differently to placement tasks depending on context and method utilized, influencing apparent cognitive ability.

Page 26: Object Permanence and Spatial Memory Tasks

• Analysis of Object Permanence in Dogs: Mixed results from previous studies indicate variability in dog cognition regarding the displacement tasks.

Page 27: CCCAA and Test Participants

• CCC Assessment Used: Comparative Cognition assessments integrated various cognitive tasks specific to dog breeds underwent testing in controlled environments.

Page 28: Description of Testing Subjects

• Demographic Overview: Dogs were evaluated based on size, sex, and previous training experiences, informing cognitive assessments.

Page 29-30: Participant Details and Matching

• Summary of Participants: Individual characteristics were noted across participating dogs, resulting in statistical balancing for analysis.

Page 31: Testing Environment Overview

• Testing Setup: Detail on arrangement for cognitive tasks including use of occluder cups and food reward placement.

Page 32: Tracking Participation and Motivation

• Participant Handling and Rewards: Outline of methods to maintain dog motivation and interest throughout testing sessions.

Page 33-36: Task Definitions and Assignments

• Breakdown of Cognitive Tasks: Specific tasks outlined for assessing spatial memory, object permanence, and transposition abilities among subjects.

Page 37-41: Data Analysis and Methodologies

• Statistical Examination: Deployment of MANCOVA and t-tests to ascertain performance metrics across sexes and size groups exposed in cognitive tasks.

Page 42: Results Summary

• Statistical Findings: Summary of results showing that sex and altered status influenced performance levels across various cognitive tasks.

Page 43: Performance Comparisons

• Analysis of Variances: Comparative performance metrics are presented focusing on cognitive tasks relative to chance outcomes across dog sizes and sexes.

Page 44-46: Discussion of Findings

• Implications of Research: Discussion of interpretations regarding cognitive task performance linked to size and training, emphasizing future directions for research.

Page 47: Conclusions Drawn

• Final Takeaways: Summary stating that cognitive differences in dogs may not be substantially affected by size as previously suggested; rather impacted by training and experience.

Page 48-53: Conclusion and Supporting Documents

• Appendix and References: Compilation of supporting documents and situating data reference standards for research integrity in ongoing studies.