1.2 Positive Reinforcement

Question 1

Define instrumental conditioning (IC)

Answer 1

In instrumental conditioning, reinforcement or punishment are used to either increase or decrease the probability that a behaviour will occur again in the future

Question 2

What relationship is critical in IC?

Answer 2

The relationship between the response and the outcome

Question 3

What is distinct about IC compared to classical conditioning?

Answer 3

The subject’s behaviour determines the presentation of outcomes ONLY in IC

Question 4

Define Thorndike’s Law of Effect

Answer 4

If a response produces a satisfying outcome, the response is more likely to occur again.

If a response produces a frustrating outcome, the response is less likely to occur again.

Question 5

What is reinforcement?

Answer 5

Refers to the process by which an action is encouraged by the consequences that follow from that action

The relation between some event (the reinforcer) and a preceding response increases the strength of the response

Question 6

How is a reinforcer defined?

Answer 6

It is defined by its observed effect on behaviour and NOT by its subjective qualities

Question 7

What is a positive contingency?

Answer 7

Response results in outcome

Question 8

What is a negative contingency?

Answer 8

Response prevents outcome

Question 9

Define secondary reinforcement

Answer 9

Refers to a situation wherein a stimulus reinforces a behaviour after being previously associated with a primary reinforcer or a stimulus that satisfies basic survival instinct such as food, drinks, and clothing
ie. previously neutral stimuli may acquire reinforcing properties

Question 10

What are 2 factors that affect IC?

Answer 10

1. Temporal contiguity

2. Contingency

Question 11

What is temporal contiguity?

Answer 11

Refers to how much time passes between the action and the reinforcer?

Question 12

How does temporal contiguity affect IC?

Answer 12

A shorter delay results in a stronger association is made

Question 13

What is thought to happen during weak TC?

Answer 13

Memory decay may occur the longer the time delay

Can get confused as to what is being reinforced - interference may lead to other associative learning taking place

Question 14

How does contingency affect IC?

Answer 14

Leads to strong IC occurring quickly

It is critical for other types of IC

Question 15

Give an example of a strong and weak contingency

Answer 15

Strong = rat only receives food if it presses the lever 
Weak = rat receives food regardless of pressing the lever

Question 16

What is shaping?

Answer 16

Refers to trying to encourage a behaviour that you ultimately want the subject to perform by rewarding approximations to the goal

Question 17

What basic principles of reinforcement does behaviour shaping have to adhere to in order to be effective?

Answer 17

Close temporal contiguity between R and Rft
Avoid giving spurious Rfts as this degrades contingency
Avoid reinforcing the wrong behaviour - development of “superstitious” behaviour

Question 18

What does response chaining involve?

Answer 18

Shaping a sequence of responses

Question 19

How did Skinner explain the complex behaviour of humans through the shaping principle and theories of reinforcement?

Answer 19

All complex behaviours can be broken down into simpler parts
Made up of small components of behaviour that build up on one another
There is an interplay between stimulus and response

Question 20

What is the best way to start response chaining?

Answer 20

Training the thing closest to the reward and work your way back

Question 21

What is partial reinforcement?

Answer 21

Where there is a reward given for a response but not always

Question 22

List the different schedules of reinforcement

Answer 22

Continuous reinforcement

Partial reinforcement: 
Fixed ratio
Fixed interval
Variable ratio
Variable interval

Question 23

What is extinction?

Answer 23

Availability of reinforcement is removed so there is zero contingency between response and reinforcer

Observed in both IC and CC