8.3

Question 1

Operant conditioning

Answer 1

association between a behaviour and its consequences

Question 2

Distinguish between operant conditioning and classical conditioning

Answer 2

1. OC = behaviour and consequences, whereas CC = association between 2 stimuli
2. OC generally works best for VOLUNTARY behaviours, CC for INVOLUNTARY behaviours

Question 3

Conditioned reinforcer: how does the reinforcer gain value?

Answer 3

a reinforcer that gains value from its association with other items of value

Question 4

What are the two types of consequences?

Answer 4

reinforcement: increase tendency of the goal behaviour occurring again
- positive
- negative

punishment: decrease the tendency that a behaviour will occur again
- positive
- negative

*usually a goal. e.g. promote safe driving

Question 5

Positive reinforcement

Answer 5

something added to increase the tendency the behaviour will occur again
=> rewarded with a gift card

Question 6

Negative reinforcement

Answer 6

something taken away to increase the tendency the behaviour will occur again
=> seat belt will take away the buzzing sound

Question 7

Positive punishment

Answer 7

something added to decrease tendency that a behaviour will occur again (e.g. speeding)
=> add a fine for speeding ticket

Question 8

Negative punishment

Answer 8

something taken away to decrease tendency that a behaviour will occur again
=> take away their license

Question 9

Extinction OP vs CC

Answer 9

OP: the behaviour is no longer associated with a reward or punishment

CC: new learning overriding the old learning

Question 10

Partial reinforcement

Answer 10

reinforcement of a DESIRED behaviour on some occasions, but not others

Question 11

Fixed interval

Answer 11

• requires waiting a specific amount of time, e.g. salary once a month
• no matter the effort, still being paid at the end of the month

=> response rates start out low, but increases as getting near the time for reinforcement = scalloped response pattern

Question 12

Fixed ratio (FR)

Answer 12

• reinforcement after fixed quantity (not time)

=> produce high rates of responding, but declines immediately after the reinforcement is received (post-reinforcement pause)

Question 13

Variable interval

Answer 13

• reinforcement in unpredictable amount of time

=> steady response rate

Question 14

Variable ratio

Answer 14

• unspecified amount of times to receive reinforcement
  (slot machine)

=> high and steady response rate

Question 15

Shaping (method of successive approximations): what do the reinforcers do?

Answer 15

reinforcers guide behaviour towards closer and closer approximations of the desired behaviour

• balance between too little and too much reinforcement

Question 16

Shaping: learner does some ___ of ____. They receive ____ for that action.

Answer 16

sort of action.

Consequence

Question 17

Shaping: procedure uses only ______

Answer 17

reinforcement

=> rewards
=> reinforce behaviours u want to see w reward, but ignore the one u don’t want (no punishment)

Question 18

Shaping: in order to shape a behaviour, u need to start somewhere. u raise the bar each time and _____ until desired behavior

Answer 18

nudge them closer each time until desired behaviour => training
a tiger to jump thru a fire hoop (unnatural behaviour)

1. reward for stepping thru hoop on the ground
2. only reward jumping thru the hoop slightly above ground
3. only reward jumping thru the hoop w a bit of fire

and so on… a little more complicated each time