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Testing traits Saarloos wolfdog and Czechoslovakian wolfdog
Peterová, Dalia ; Fiala Šebková, Naděžda (advisor) ; Jana, Jana (referee)
This thesis is about cognitive behavior of dogs and wolves. It focuses on breeds of Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and Saarlooswolfdog, resulting from crossbreeding of a dog and a wolf. The thesis describes their natural behavior and abilities to cooperate and communicate with humans.
The thesis repeats series of behavioral experiments performed on dogs and wolfs described by Ádám Miklósi in his study from 2003 "A Simple Reason for a Big Difference: Wolves Do Not Look Back at Humans, but Dogs Do". We were interested to know how these particular crossbreeds would behave in the same model situations, thus we tested them on the Czechoslovakian Wolfdogs and Saarlooswolfdogs.
The first study shows whether the subjects are able to locate hidden food indicated by a known gesture of a human experimenter. The second study examines whether the subject, that is not able to solve a similarly looking task by itself, looks at a human for clues. The dog easily learns how to solve a simple task: opening an object to get to food. And it subsequently faces a similar situation, in which, it is impossible for the dog to resolve it by itself.
These experiments demonstrate that Czechoslovakian Wolfdog and Saarlooswolfdog are able to collaborate with humans with similar willingness. There is no statistical difference between these two breeds and the two sexes of these animals.
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The kea and the kaka, their distribution, state of endangerment and cognitive abilities
Vrbenská, Šárka ; Ledvinka, Zdeněk (advisor) ; Zita, Lukáš (referee)
The kea and the kaka are parrots endemic to the New Zealand. The kea occures mainly in mountains, the kaka has it's habitat in the native forests. The kea can be easily tamed and is by then often seen around touristic locations. Eventhough, he is quite rare. His population is estimated on 5 000 individuals. Both species are threatened by introduced mammals, who predate on their eggs, chicks and rearing females. Their numbers are decreasing also because of a competition about honeydew with introduced wasps and the lost of their natural habitat. The last two reasons occur especialy with the kaka.
Both species feed generally on vegetal food supplemented with a small amount of animal protein, which is obtained principally from insects. Rumors about keas hunting and killing sheep are today considered being overstated, however there is a high possibility they like to nibble meat and fat from dead sheep. Despite this settlement and the fact they are both protected by law, some farmers keep shooting them.
There is only about 40 kakas and 250 keas in zoological gardens and other institutions over the world. Both species need to be kept in spacious aviaries that are firm enough to resist their strong beeks. They are very social so they must be kept in pairs or flocks.
These parrots are very inteligents, inquisitives and social. Therefore, there is a lot of experiments about the cognitive abilities of the kea. It has been found that he is able to learn simple tasks like pulling a string with a treat on it or opening a box with several locks. It is also possible that the individuals learn to perform operations only by simple observation of another bird.
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Model of relationship between poverty and decision-making
Svatoš, Filip ; Burian, Jan (advisor) ; Berka, Petr (referee)
This thesis deals with a design of a model of financial decision making in humans with limited cognitive resources under conditions of poverty, subsequent creation of a computer simulation based on this model, finding parameters in which this model generates a behavior close to real data and testing the behavior of the model under different conditions. The created model is based on current findings in fields of psychology and economics regarding decision making, limited cognitive resources and impact of poverty on cognitive resources and decision making. The model is created using the system dynamics methodology and subsequently, with the use of UML language, implemented into a computer simulation in programmable environment NetLogo. Testing the model showed its ability to generate a behavior close to real data and thus its potential to be used as a model for studying and understanding of the dealt problem and experimenting in order to finding new ways of dealing with the problem of poverty.
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Cognitive predispositions affected by degree of brain masculinity and femininity
PIXA, David
This thesis is concerned with gender-related differences of cognitive predispositions. Findings could be utilized predominantly in human resource management, pedagogy and psychology. The research was proceeded as a case study of 45 undergraduate students. Individual degree of masculinity/femininity (gender) was indicated by the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), while cognitive preferences were measured and described by Hermann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI). Another data were obtained by means of qualitative research methods, such as participant observation and semi-structured interviews. Besides, in general features were surveyed hand-lateral-preference, professional orientation and attention capability. All probands were divided into 6 categories according to gender and degree of MF. Synthesis of MMPI and HBDI results showed significant congruence between the gender-categories and a dominant preference of the HBDI{\crq}s cognitive styles: Masculine men {--} a dominant preference of A-mode (analytical thinking). Feminine men {--} a dominant preference of D-mode (imaginative thinking). Masculine women {--} a dominant preference of B-mode (sequential thinking). Feminine women {--} a dominant preference of C-mode (interpersonal thinking). This findings were in accordance with a professional orientation of the probands (regardless of the field of study they have choosen). Right-brain dominant students (mostly feminine men) were not well-adjusted to a classical passive teaching metods.
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