Learning notes

Question 1

Thorndike and animal intelligence

Answer 1

Animals dont have insight but learn through experience

Question 2

Law of effect

Answer 2

If a consequence is positive The S-r relation is strengthened - (stimulus response)
If it is negative it is weakened

Question 3

Instrumental conditioning is what?

Answer 3

The behaviour causes the presence of stimuli, unlike classical conditioning where the stimuli is presented regardless.

Question 4

Discrete trial procedures

Answer 4

Is based on time and if the response happens or not unlike free-operant procedures where the rat can run continously
Easy to control and structured, but does not simulate real life

Question 5

Running speed, response latency, trials

Answer 5

The animals speed, time taken to start, showing the instrumental response

Question 6

Response rate

Answer 6

frequency of responses per min

Question 7

High response rate means

Answer 7

a high probability of instrumental behaviour occurring

Question 8

Low response rate

Answer 8

low probability

Question 9

Positive reinforcement

Answer 9

add something good to increase behaviour, appetitive

Question 10

Negative reinforcement

Answer 10

Remove something unpleasant to increase behaviour, aversive

Question 11

positive punishment

Answer 11

add something bad (eg a shock) to decrease behaviour, aversive

Question 12

Negative punishment

Answer 12

Remove something good to decrease behaviour, appetitive

Question 13

Superstition in animals

Answer 13

might do a random behaviour for a reward

Question 14

behavioural contrast effects

Answer 14

the value of the reawrd is influenced by the previous one

Question 15

Discrimination training

Answer 15

Leads to precise control by teaching an animal to respond to one stimuli (S+) and not another (S-)

Question 16

shaping

Answer 16

is learning new behaviour by taking small steps (called reinforcement of successive approximations)

Question 17

Contingency

Answer 17

The behaviour must cause the response ( a reliable link)

Question 18

Contiguity

Answer 18

Outcome must happen quickly after the behaviour

Question 19

Temporal relation

Answer 19

the time between behaviour and reinforcement - if too long might not add to learning or form wrong associations

Question 20

Causal relation

Answer 20

intensity needed, its the relationship between the cause-and effect.

Question 21

Learned helplessness

Answer 21

After constant tense feeling, stops making attempts as he does not believe he can control the situation.

Question 22

Fixed ratio

Answer 22

the ratio does not change, a set number of response is required for each reinforcement
FR(10) meaning every 10 responses

Question 23

Variable ratio

Answer 23

The average number remains the same, but the actual numbers vary (eg VR(10), could be every 4 then 3 then 3)

Question 24

Ratio schedule

Answer 24

Reinforcer occurs after x time

Question 25

Intermittent reinforcement

Answer 25

reinforcer doesnt occure after every response

Question 26

Fixed interval

Answer 26

Every X seconds

Question 27

Varied interval

Answer 27

Same time, but unpredictable time gaps but still average.

Question 28

Ratio strain

Answer 28

When amount of responses are too high, dramatic increase and ends up not responding at all

Question 29

Interval schedules

Answer 29

reward only after enough time has passed and correct response has occurred

Question 30

Thorndike puzzle box

Answer 30

cat learns to escape using trial & error

Question 31

Free-operant procedures

Answer 31

Animal can run freely

Question 32

Matching Law

Answer 32

you do more of what you get more from. EG if A rewards 70% of the time and B 30% there is going to be 70%s more responses to A and 30% more to B

Question 33

S-R-O chain

Answer 33

(S) contextual stimuli the environment where learning happens, (R) Instrumental response the behavior performed by the subject, (O) response outcome, result of the behaviour

Question 34

What association in classical conditioning

Answer 34

S-O (s-light predicts food=o)

Question 35

What association in instrumental conditioning

Answer 35

R-O or S-R

Question 36

What is Bliss point?

Answer 36

Your ideal behaviour on a perfect day

Question 37

Premack principle

Answer 37

Something you like to do can reinforce something you dont like to do (eg eating veggies before dessert)

Question 38

Response deprivation hypothesis

Answer 38

Restricting a desired behaviour, increases its value

Question 39

Demand curve

Answer 39

consumption goes down as price/effort goes up

Question 40

Elastic demand

Answer 40

demand drops quickly if cost increases

Question 41

inelastic demand

Answer 41

demand stays stable when cost increases (eg insulin)

Question 42

Substitute reinforcers

Answer 42

If the rat can get alternative rewards it wont work as hard for the others

Question 43

Income level+time available

Answer 43

Less elastic behaviour

Question 44

You learn to respond to one stimulus and ignore another

Answer 44

Stimulus discrimination

Question 45

Stimulus generalization

Answer 45

you respond similiarly to stimulus that reminds you of another one

Question 46

the similar a stimulus is to the original one the more likely it will produce the same response

Answer 46

steep gradiant and shallow gradiant,

Question 47

Relative ease (overshadowing)

Answer 47

when two stimuli are presented together, the more noticable one dominates the other. In therapy if you present too many cues, one might not learn from the other

Question 48

how much the subject can detect the stimuli

Answer 48

sensory capacity

Question 49

Visual stimulates

Answer 49

appetitive behaviours

Question 50

auditory stimulates

Answer 50

avoidance behaviours

Question 52

Superstitious behavior

Answer 52

Association of random behaviors, due to temporal proximity, not actual causality

Question 53

Generalization gradient

Answer 53

Makes the curve drop as stimuli similarity increases