Topic 8

Question 1

Behaviour varies naturally in:

Answer 1

• Pressure (intensity)
• Strength (effort)
• Technique (method)
• Hand (which limb/body part

Question 2

Shaping (Behavioural Selection)

Answer 2

Differential reinforcement of successive approximations to a target behaviour.

Use when the target behaviour doesn’t exist in the person’s repertoire

Goal: Train a rat to press a lever.
Reinforce approaching the lever.
Reinforce sniffing the lever.
Reinforce touching the lever with its paw.
Reinforce full lever press.

Question 3

Shaping Guidelines

Answer 3

Define the target behaviour
Determine whether shaping is the most appropriate procedure
Identify the starting behaviour
Choosing the shaping steps
Choose the reinforcer
Differentially reinforce successive approximations
Move through the shaping steps at a proper pace

Question 4

Tips for shaping

Answer 4

• Reinforce in small steps
• Use continuous reinforcement
• Provide immediate reinforcement
• Provide small (or conditioned) reinforcers
• Skip ahead when possible
• Back up when necessary
• Following successful shaping, move to intermittent schedules of reinforcement

Question 5

marking behaviour

Answer 5

given instant feedback that the right behaviour happened

Question 6

clickers in marking behaviour

Answer 6

Clickers = an example of a conditioned reinforcer that marks the behaviour.

Dog fetches a ball → Click right as the ball lands in your hand → Then give a treat.

Question 7

“Superstitious” Behaviour

Answer 7

Behaviour that occurs even though it does not produce a consequence

Pigeon pecks wall → food randomly delivered by timer → pigeon keeps pecking wall thinking it caused the food.

Question 8

verbal behaviour

Answer 8

learning to speak

Question 9

Matching law

Answer 9

more reinforcement → more behaviour

Question 10

Behaviour Chains (Stimulus- Response Chain)

Answer 10

A complex behaviour consisting of two or more component behaviours that occur together in a sequence
Each step has:
SD (discriminative stimulus) → cue to act.
Response → behaviour.
Each response becomes SD for the next.

Question 11

Task Analysis

Answer 11

• Breaking down a task into its component elements.
• Prior to chaining, subject must be capable of each component
• Revise as necessary (break down or combine steps, include shaping, etc.)

Question 12

forward Training

Answer 12

Teach first step first, reinforce it.
Then teach first + second step together, etc.

Example: Making Tea
Boil water (learn first).
Then boil water + put tea bag in cup.
Then boil water + put tea bag + pour water.

Question 13

Backward Chaining

Answer 13

Teach last step first.
Once they can do it independently, move backward.

Example: Getting Dresse
Reinforce putting on hat (last step).
Then shoes + hat.
Then pants + shoes + hat, etc

Question 14

Total Task Presentation

Answer 14

Use prompting to get the learner to perform the whole chain from start to finish

Question 15

Prompts for Chaining (4 Types)

Answer 15

Written prompts
Picture prompts
Video modelling
Self-Instructions