PSY1002 SEMESTER 2 - WEEK 8

Question 1

in operant conditioning, what does action refer to

Answer 1

more general than classical conditioning “responses”
pressing levels, opening doors, pushing buttons
under stimulus control so actions can be responses to specific situations

Question 2

how does operant differ to classical conditioning regarding UCS

Answer 2

UCS relies on behaviours of animal. only ocurs if levers pressed

Question 3

whats Thorndikes law of effect

Answer 3

responses that create typically pleasant outcome in particular situation more likely to occur again in similar situation. response producing typically unpleasant outcome less likely to occur again

Question 4

outline Skinner box paradigm

Answer 4

stimuli (lights, speaker)
response (lever)
appetitive stimuli- rewards
aversive stimuli- punishments

Question 5

define positive reinforcement

Answer 5

behaviour strengthened through adding pleasant stimuli

Question 6

define negative reinforcement

Answer 6

behaviour strengthened through removing unpleasant stimuli

Question 7

define positive punishment

Answer 7

behaviour weakened through adding unpleasant stimuli

Question 8

define negative punishment

Answer 8

behaviour weakened through removing pleasant stimuli

Question 9

evaluate reinforcements

Answer 9

increase behaviour, more beneficial, result in long-term behavioural changes, creating pos rel with person giving reinf

Question 10

evaluate punishments

Answer 10

decrease behaviour, less beneficial than reinforcement, temporary behaviour changes based on coercion, create neg rel

Question 11

how can we prevent rapid extinctions once rewards using in reinforcement stops

Answer 11

use differing reinforcement schedule

Question 12

what are partial reinforcement schedule (classical conditioning)

Answer 12

responses sometimes reinforced, sometimes not. slower initial learning, but more extinction resistance as reinforcement not appearing after each behaviour so learner take longer to determine lack of rewards. extinction is slower

Question 13

what are partial reinforcement schedules decided on

Answer 13

if reinforcement presented on time elapsed inbetween reinforcement basis (interval) or on basis of number of responses that has been engaged in (ratio)
whether reinforcement occur on regular (fixed) or unpredictable (variable) schedules

Question 14

describe interval schedules

Answer 14

reinforcements presented on basis of time elapsing inbetween each reinforcement

Question 15

describe ratio schedules

Answer 15

reinforcement presented on basis of responses occurs inbetween each reinforcement

Question 16

what is a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 16

behaviour is reinforced after specific number of responses eg: giving child screen after reading 5 pages of book

Question 17

explain fixed ratio

Answer 17

continuous reinforcement is “FR1”. every 5 pages “FR5”
brief pause in response after each reinforcement
probability of reinforcement increases with successive response
“stair-step” pattern

Question 18

what is a variable ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 18

behaviour is reinforced after average and unpredictable number of responses eg: payoff from slot machine

Question 19

explain variable ratio

Answer 19

responses reinforced after random number of response (VR), attribute number to VR (average of response, eg: VR15)
rate of responding for VR fast
no post reinforcement pauses
consistent response rates over time

Question 20

what is a fixed interval reinforcement schedule

Answer 20

behaviour is reinforced for first response after specific amount of time has passed eg: receiving monthly salary for work

Question 21

explain fixed interval

Answer 21

first response, then certain amount of time, then reinforcement
produce characteristic response pattern
post-reinforcement pause, then slow response rate the high response rate toward end of interval
“scallop” patterns

Question 22

what is a variable interval reinforcement schedule

Answer 22

behaviour is reinforced for first response after an average and unpredictable time eg: check emails periodically

Question 23

explain variable interval

Answer 23

response reinforced following randomly determined amount of time
constant and no post reinforcement pause
most common for operant research as produces steady predictable performance

Question 24

define shaping

Answer 24

process of guiding behaviour to desired outcomes using intermediate stages, and reinforvce individual steps. takes time, but allow learning more complex sequences

Question 25

when can shaping be used for reinforcement

Answer 25

socially important behaviour = toilet training, verbal responses, academic skills
reinforcers must quickly followed desired responses

Question 26

what are secondary reinforcer

Answer 26

conditioned secondary reinforcer reduce delay between behaviour and delivery of primary reinforcer
eg: previously NS becomes reinforcer after paired with a primary reinforcer

Question 27

define primary reinforcer

Answer 27

stimuli that are naturally preferred

Question 28

define secondary reinforcer

Answer 28

neutral event that has become associated with primary reinforcers through classical conditioning

Question 29

outline pigeon study for effect of reward magnitude on learning (Rose, 2009)

Answer 29

condition A= peck 1 key for small reward, different key is big reward
condition B= peck correct key for reward and incorrect cause lights to go out
condition C= peck specific colour for small reward, peck different colour for no reward

learnt to associate colours with small/large rewards, or no lights
big rewards cause faster learning but eventually small catch up

Question 30

describe the role of dopamine in conditionings

Answer 30

increased activity in dopaminergic neurons as response to reward
consistent pairing of CS and UCS causes responses occuring at CS not CR
no reward show decreased activity where reward should have occurred