A theoretical comparison of the consumer surplus and the elasticities of demand as measures of motivational strength

Kirkden, Richard D.; Edwards, Jeremy

doi:10.1006/anbe.2002.2035

Cited by 76 publications

(58 citation statements)

References 56 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…However, the design of these operant set-ups, and the validity of the various resultant motivational indices is a subject of discussion (Rachlin et al, 1976;Lea, 1978;Dawkins, 1983;Mason et al, 1998 and replies;Kirkden et al, 2003;Cooper, 2004). One issue concerns the type of access subjects are allowed once they have worked for a reward.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kirkden et al, 2003) and suitability for addressing different types of welfare questions (e.g. Warburton and Mason, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…More importantly, although this measure is taken from human economics, it is not actually the measure economists use to quantify resource value (because subject to confounds; see, e.g. Ng, 1990;Kirkden et al, 2003;Warburton and Mason, 2003). Instead, human economists use 'consumer surplus', the first of alternative motivational indices we discuss below.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…When asking the welfare question 'How much would the consumer benefit by getting an unlimited quantity of X for free?' the consumer surplus is thus the whole area under the demand curve between zero cost and the maximum the subject will pay (see Kirkden et al, 2003 for further discussion). The consumer surplus can also be used to compare the value of the first and subsequent units of one resource with the first and subsequent units of other resources (Kirkden et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Hovland

Mason

Bøe

et al. 2006

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To measure farmed foxes' motivations for full, naturalistic social contact, we constructed an apparatus where they could perform an operant to access stimuli, but then leave freely and thence determine their own bout lengths. Motivational measures based on demand curves can be invalid in such set-ups, and we therefore sought to validate the measure 'maximum price paid'. This was achieved by measuring six silver fox males' maximum operant responding for access or proximity to three resources differing in biological significance: food, vixens in oestrus and males. We predicted that if valid, maximum price paid would be highest for food and vixens. Maximum price were 970 AE 399 (S.E.) for food, 677 AE 173 (S.E.) for vixens and 389 AE 101 (S.E.) for other males (P < 0.05). In contrast, our complementary measures of motivation -price elasticity, expenditure and consumer surplus -did not differentiate between the resources, and ranked them in different orders (albeit not significantly). This was because the foxes rescheduled their behaviour with increasing costs, decreasing bout number while increasing bout length, to different extents with the three resources. Additional findings showed that all subjects 'overpaid', performing the operant response more than was required. This increased as the costs increased, perhaps due to increasing 'time outs' on the time-restricted schedule (DRH) as the task got harder. However, the overpayment was also highest when males were the resource, suggesting that operant responding was slowest and least efficient when working for less-valued resources. The resources present also affected how the foxes used the rest of the apparatus and influenced their behaviour; subjects staying more in the operant compartment when the resource was social (especially a female), but retreating to a distant compartment when it was food. While proximity to oestrous vixens elicited higher levels of tail wagging and only low levels of pacing, indicating a positive motivation, proximity to males elicited relatively high levels of pacing plus agonistic gaping, suggesting that the motives for seeking contact with males related to aggression. Thus, although our operant set-up reveals a drive to approach other males, the possible aggressive motives suggest that this sort of social contact would not necessarily improve their welfare in a traditional housing system. Overall, these results help improve the design and interpretation of preference tests, and confirm maximum price paid as a useful motivational measure for farmed foxes. #

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Kirkden et al, 2003) and suitability for addressing different types of welfare questions (e.g. Warburton and Mason, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Hovland

Mason

Bøe

et al. 2006

Applied Animal Behaviour Science

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…MANSER et al (1996), estudando os pisos preferidos por ratos de laboratório, observaram que os ratos levantaram uma porta mais pesada para ter acessar um piso sólido objetivando descansar que para ter acesso a um piso de arame. Os métodos de avaliação da força de motivação são explicados por KIRKDEN et al (2003).…”

Section: Definição De Bem-estar Animalunclassified

Bem-Estar Animal: Conceito E Questões Relacionadas Revisão

Broom¹,

Molento²

2004

AVS

169

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

os critérios mencionados, associada a uma explicação sobre a avaliação do bem-estar animal. Espera-se oferecer ao leitor uma base para o entendimento desta nova ciência, indispensável aos profissionais cujo trabalho gira em torno da interação entre seres humanos e animais.Palavras chave: bem-estar animal, estresse, necessidades, saúde, sofrimento.ABSTRACT -Welfare is a word widely used by public in many situations and its meaning is often not precise. However, an objective definition is needed if the concept is to be used scientifically and professionally. Moreover, welfare has to be defined in such a way that it can be readily related to other concepts such as: needs, freedoms, happiness, coping, control, predictability, feelings, suffering, pain, anxiety, fear, boredom, stress and health. This review presents a definition of animal welfare which satisfies these criteria, as well as explaining how to assess welfare. Its main objective is to offer the reader a basis for an understanding of this new science, which is essential to those whose work centres on the human-animal interaction.

show abstract

A theoretical comparison of the consumer surplus and the elasticities of demand as measures of motivational strength

Cited by 76 publications

References 56 publications

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Bem-Estar Animal: Conceito E Questões Relacionadas Revisão

Further Reading

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

A theoretical comparison of the consumer surplus and the elasticities of demand as measures of motivational strength

Cited by 76 publications

References 56 publications

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Evaluation of the ‘maximum price paid’ as an index of motivational strength for farmed silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

Bem-Estar Animal: Conceito E Questões Relacionadas  Revisão

Further Reading

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Bem-Estar Animal: Conceito E Questões Relacionadas Revisão