Ch. 7 - Schedules and Theories of Reinforcement Flashcards
(41 cards)
1
Q
reinforcement schedule
A
- a rule about when and how often a response will be reinforced
- ex. does every lever press by the rat result in a food pellet, or are several lever presses required?
2
Q
continuous reinforcement schedule (CRF)
A
- each specified response is reinforced
- useful when a behaviour is first being shaped or strengthened
3
Q
partial reinforcement schedule
A
- only some responses are reinforced
- may start out as continuous
4
Q
what are the 4 simple schedules of reinforcement?
A
- fixed ratio
- fixed interval
- variable ratio
- variable interval
5
Q
fixed ratio schedule (FR)
A
- reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses
- ex. after 5 lever presses the rat gets a food pellet
- generally produce a high rate of response along with a short pause following the attainment of each reinforcer (post-reinforcement pause)
6
Q
post reinforcement pauses - are they longer after shorter or longer ratios?
A
- after a long fixed ratio (ex. lever pressing 50 vs 5 times before reinforcement), the pause will be longer (because the rat is more tired)
- with low ratios, there will be little to no pause following reinforcement
7
Q
what does it mean if a schedule is “dense” or “rich”
A
- reinforcer is easily obtained (ex. FR 5)
- takes less times before reinforcement
8
Q
what does it mean if a schedule is “lean”
A
- reinforcer is difficult to obtain (ex. FR 100)
- takes more times
9
Q
ratio strain
A
- “burnout”
- disruption in responding due to an overly demanding response requirement
- ex. jumping from FR 5 to FR 200 too quickly
10
Q
variable ratio schedule (VR)
A
- reinforcement depends on varying, unpredictable number of responses
- makes things like gambling addictive
11
Q
fixed interval schedule (FI)
A
- reinforcement occurs after a set amount of time
- still requires the operant response (doesn’t automatically get rewarded when the interval is done)
- anything during the interval doesn’t get rewarded but the first response after the interval is up does
- behaviour slows down a bit between intervals
12
Q
variable interval schedule (VI)
A
- reinforcement depends on the first response after a varying, unpredictable period of time
- usually produce a moderate, steady rate of response, often with little or no post-reinforcement pause
- ex. checking your phone
13
Q
which types of schedule produce the highest rate of responses?
A
ratio schedules
- relies entirely on response rates (respond more = reinforced more)
- ex. rat can control how many food pellets it gets
14
Q
duration schedules
A
- reinforcement is dependent on performing a behaviour continuously throughout a period of time
15
Q
fixed duration schedule
A
- behaviour must be performed continuously for a fixed, predictable period of time
- ex. rat must run in wheel for 60 seconds before receiving a food pellet
16
Q
variable duration schedule
A
- behaviour must be performed continuously for a varying, unpredictable period of time
17
Q
response-rate schedule
A
- reinforcement depends on the organism’s rate of response
18
Q
differential reinforcement of high rates (DRH)
A
- reinforcement depends on emitting at least a certain number of responses in a certain period of time
- reinforcement is provided for responding at a fast rate
- differential because one type of response is reinforced while another isn’t (for high rate but not for low)
19
Q
differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL)
A
- a minimum amount of time must pass between each response before the reinforcer will be delivered
- reinforcement is provided for responding at a slow rate
- must not respond for a certain amount of time in order to receive reinforcement
20
Q
differential reinforcement of paced responding (DRP)
A
- reinforcement depends on emitting a series of responses at a set rate
- reinforcement is provided for responding neither too fast nor too slow
21
Q
noncontingent schedule of reinforcement
A
- reinforcer is delivered independently of any response
- response is not required for a reinforcer to be obtained
- reinforcement given no matter what they do
- can help extinguish something like attention seeking because they learn that no matter what they do the teacher is gonna smile at them every 5 minutes
22
Q
fixed time schedule (FT)
A
- the reinforcer is delivered following a fixed, predictable period of time (regardless of an organism’s behaviour)
- ex. christmas gifts no matter if you’re naughty or nice
23
Q
variable time schedule (VT)
A
- reinforcer isi delivered following a varying, unpredictable period of time (regardless of an organism’s behaviour)
24
Q
complex schedule
A
- consists of a combination of 2 or more simple schedules
25
# complex schedule
conjunctive schedule
- type of complex schedule in which requirements of 2 or more simple schedules must be met before a reinforcer is delivered
- ex. FI 2 minute FR 100 schedule (100 presses + at least 1 press after a 2 minute interval)
- ex. working enough hours and doing enough work so that you don't get fired = keeping your job
26
# complex schedule
adjusting schedule
- the response requirement changes as a function of the organism's performance while responding for the previous reinforcer
- ex. increasing the needed amount of lever presses gradually
27
chained schedule (chaining)
- have to perform things in a certain order
- series of different behaviours that need to be performed
- reinforcement only occurring after the final response in the sequence
28
goal gradient effect
- an increase in the strength and/or efficiency of responding as one draws near the goal
- ex. working harder and taking less breaks as the end of the exam time approaches
29
drive reduction theory
- an event is reinforcing to the extent that it is associated with a reduction in some type of physiological drive
- ex. food deprivation produces a "hunger drive" which propels the animal to seek out food - food being obtained then reduces this drive
30
incentive motivation
- motivation that is derived from some property of the reinforcer, as opposed to an internal drive state
- ex. doing things for the fun of it
31
premack principle
- reinforcers are behaviours rather than stimuli (ex. eating the food rather than the food itself)
- premack principle states that high-probability behaviour can be used to reinforce a low-probability behaviour
- ex. when a rat is hungry, it is more likely that it will eat than run on a wheel - this means eating can be used to reinforce the target behaviour of running on a wheel
- opposite can be true, if a rat isn't hungry and is therefore likley to run on the wheel, running can be used as the reinforcer where the rat will eat whether it's hungry or not in order to gain access to the wheel
- ex. first you work, then you play
32
response deprivation hypothesis
- states that behaviour can serve as a reinforcer when:
1. access to that behaviour is restricted
2. it's frequency thereby falls, or is in danger of falling, below its preferred level of occurence
- ex. can't watch tv until you do your homework (if the option is only to watch no tv when they are used to watching it every day, they will be more likely to do homework)
33
behavioural bliss point approach
- an organism with free access to alternative activities will distribute its behaviour in such a way as to maximize overall reinforcement
- ex. if a rat could run on the wheel or go in the maze, it might spend 2 hours a day doing each thing
34
forward chaining
- the teacher starts by reinforcing the first response in the chain, then gradually adds the second response, the third response, and so on
35
backward chaining
- the teacher starts with the last response in a chain and works backward
- ex. to teach pilots how to land a plane (last element was the most difficult) - land on track, approach runway, lower altitude, complete touchdown in full
36
which method of chaining is best?
- depends
- if one end is more difficult, starting with that end may be the best strategy
37
total task method
- teaching the entire chain simultaneously
38
if an experimenter is planning to use partial reinforcement methods, what training comes first?
- CRF (continuous reinforcement) to train the target behaviour/response first
- can then shift contingency away from CRF and to the partial reinforcement schedule of focus
39
contingency
- conditional or dependent relationship between two events
- one event is dependent on the other
- highlights connection between behaviour and consequence
40
negative reinforcement - escape
- a type of negative reinforcement in which performing a response leads to the termination of an unpleasant stimulus
- stop the bad thing from happening
41
negative reinforcement - avoidance
- a type of negative reinforcement in which performing a response prevents an unpleasant stimulus from occurring in the first place
- avoid the bad thing ever occurring
