What is the schedule of reinforcement for a behavior that is reinforced after a set number of responses?

A schedule of reinforcement is a rule that describes how often the occurrence a behavior will receive a reinforcement.  On the two ends of the spectrum of schedules of reinforcement there is continuous reinforcement (CRF) and extinction (EXT).

Continuous reinforcement provides a reinforcement each and every time a behavior is emitted.  If every time you hear the doorbell ring and there is someone on the other side of the door with a package for you, that would continuous reinforcement.

With extinction, a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced at all.  All reinforcement is withdrawn with a schedule of extinction.  An example of this is if every time you go to the grocery store with your child, when they ask for a treat, you give it to them.  One day, you decide to put this behavior into extinction and try to reduce the “asking for candy” behavior by not giving it to them any more.  You are now putting the behavior into extinction, which can have the affect of temporarily increasing aggressive behaviors as a side effect.

Intermittent schedules of reinforcement (INT) are when some, but not all, instances of a behavior are reinforced.  An intermittent schedule of reinforcement can be described as either being a ratio or interval schedule.  Ratio schedules are when a certain number of responses are emitted before reinforcement.  An interval schedule is when a response is reinforced after a certain amount of time since the last reinforcement.  The interval or ratio schedule can be either fixed or variable.  A fixed schedule is when the number of responses or the amount of time remains constant.  A variable schedule is when the number or time between reinforcements changes according to an average.

Post-reinforcement pauses are associated with fixed schedules of reinforcement.  While both fixed ratio and fixed interval show a post-reinforcement pause, the fixed ratio has a high steady rate. This type of schedule shows a scalloped effect when graphed.  This is due to the fact that immediately after the reinforcement is delivered there is a decrease in responding, and before the next scheduled opportunity there is an increase in responding behavior.  Post-reinforcement pauses and scalloped graphed effects are not present with variable schedules and conjunctive schedules of reinforcement.

Compound schedule of reinforcement

Concurrent schedule (conc)
Occurs when 2+ contingencies of reinforcement operate independently and simultaneously for 2+ behaviors.
Uses choice making
Matching Law
3 Types of Interactions associated with concurrent schedules are:

  1. the frequency of reinforcement (i.e. the more frequently a behavior receives reinforcement, the higher the likelihood that responding will increase),
  2. reinforcement vs. punishment (i.e. the behaviors associated with the punishment schedule will decrease, while the behaviors associated with reinforcement schedule will increase), and
  3. reinforcement vs. aversive stimuli (i.e. rate of avoidance responding to the aversive stimuli will increase with the intensity and frequency of the aversive stimulus schedule).

Multiple schedule (mult):

  1. alternating  two or more component schedules of reinforcement for a single response
  2. only has one schedule in effect at any time
  3. uses an Sd to signal that the particular schedule is in effect

Chained schedule (chain): Presents the schedules in a specific order and may use the same or different behaviors for all elements in the chain.

Mixed schedule (mix)

  1. alternating  two or more component schedules of reinforcement for a single response
  2. only has one schedule in effect at any time
  3. NO Sd to signal the schedule in effect

Tandem schedule (tand)

Alternative schedule (alt)

Conjunctive schedule (conj)

Progressive Schedule: Systematically thin each following reinforcement opportunity regardless of the learners behavior.

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Terms in this set (29)

what is operant conditioning?

In operant conditioning, behaviors followed by reinforcers increase; those followed by punishers often decrease.

who was skinner, and how is operant behavior reinforced and shaped?

B. F. Skinner was a college English major and aspiring writer who later entered psychology graduate school. He became modern behaviorism's most influential and controversial figure.
Operant behavior operates on the environment, producing consequences. Expanding on Edward Thorndike's law of effect, Skinner and others found that the behavior of rats or pigeons placed in an operant chamber (Skinner box) can be shaped by using reinforcers to guide closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

How do positive and negative reinforcement differ, and what are the basic types of reinforcers?

Reinforcement is any consequence that strengthens behavior. Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus to increase the frequency of a behavior. Negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus to increase the frequency of a behavior.
Primary reinforcers (such as receiving food when hungry or having nausea end during an illness) are innately satisfying—no learning is required. Conditioned (or secondary) reinforcers (such as cash) are satisfying because we have learned to associate them with more basic rewards (such as the food or medicine we buy with them). Immediate reinforcers (such as a purchased treat) offer immediate payback; delayed reinforcers (such as a weekly paycheck) require the ability to delay gratification.

How do different reinforcement schedules affect behavior?

A reinforcement schedule defines how often a response will be reinforced. In continuous reinforcement (reinforcing desired responses every time they occur), learning is rapid, but so is extinction if rewards cease. In partial (intermittent) reinforcement (reinforcing responses only sometimes), initial learning is slower, but the behavior is much more resistant to extinction. Fixed-ratio schedules reinforce behaviors after a set number of responses; variable-ratio schedules, after an unpredictable number. Fixed-interval schedules reinforce behaviors after set time periods; variable-interval schedules, after unpredictable time periods.

How does punishment differ from negative reinforcement, and how does punishment affect behavior?

Punishment administers an undesirable consequence (such as spanking) or withdraws something desirable (such as taking away a favorite toy) in an attempt to decrease the frequency of a behavior (a child's disobedience). Negative reinforcement (taking an aspirin) removes an aversive stimulus (a headache). This desired consequence (freedom from pain) increases the likelihood that the behavior (taking aspirin to end pain) will be repeated.
Punishment can have undesirable side effects, such as suppressing rather than changing unwanted behaviors; teaching aggression; creating fear; encouraging discrimination (so that the undesirable behavior appears when the punisher is not present); and fostering depression and feelings of helplessness.

Why did skinner's ideas provoke controversy, and how might his operant conditioning principles be applies at school, in sports, at work, and at home?

Critics of Skinner's principles believed the approach dehumanized people by neglecting their personal freedom and seeking to control their actions. Skinner replied that people's actions are already controlled by external consequences, and that reinforcement is more humane than punishment as a means for controlling behavior.
At school, teachers can use shaping techniques to guide students' behaviors, and they can use interactive software and websites to provide immediate feedback. In sports, coaches can build players' skills and self-confidence by rewarding small improvements. At work, managers can boost productivity and morale by rewarding well-defined and achievable behaviors. At home, parents can reward desired behaviors but not undesirable ones. We can shape our own behaviors by stating our goals, monitoring the frequency of desired behaviors, reinforcing desired behaviors, and gradually reducing rewards as behaviors become habitual.

How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

In operant conditioning, an organism learns associations between its own behavior and resulting events; this form of conditioning involves operant behavior (behavior that operates on the environment, producing rewarding or punishing consequences). In classical conditioning, the organism forms associations between stimuli—events it does not control; this form of conditioning involves respondent behavior (automatic responses to some stimulus).

learning

the process of acquiring through experience new information or behaviors

associative learning

learning that certain events occur together. The events may be two stimuli (as in classical conditioning) or a response and its consequences (as in operant conditioning)

stimulus

any event or situation that evokes a response

respondent behavior

behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus

operant conditioning

a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher

operant behavior

behavior that operates on the environment producing consequences

law of effect

thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely

operant chamber

in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

reinforcement

in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

shaping

an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

positive reinforcement

increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

negative reinforcement

increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

primary reinforcer

an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

conditioned reinforcer

a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.

reinforcement schedule

a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

continuous reinforcement schedule

reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

partial (intermittent) reinforcement schedule

reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

fixed-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

variable-ratio schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

fixed-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

variable-interval schedule

in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

punishment

an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows.

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What are the 3 schedules of reinforcement?

Table 1: Different Types of Reinforcement Schedules..
TYPE OF. REINFORCEMENT..
Fixed interval. schedules..
Variable. interval. schedules..

What are the 4 types of reinforcement schedules?

There are four basic types of intermittent schedules of reinforcement and these are:.
Fixed-Ratio (FR) Schedule..
Fixed Interval (FI) Schedule..
Variable-Ratio (VR) schedule..
Variable-Interval (VI) schedule..

What is the schedule of reinforcement?

Schedules of reinforcement are the precise rules that are used to present (or to remove) reinforcers (or punishers) following a specified operant behavior. These rules are defined in terms of the time and/or the number of responses required in order to present (or to remove) a reinforcer (or a punisher).

Which schedule of reinforcement is a ratio schedule stating a ratio of responses to reinforcements?

Variable Ratio Example.