Behaviour Modification and Behaviour Shaping

Question 1

What is continuous reinforcement?

Answer 1

Reinforcement always follows a behaviour

Question 2

What is partial reinforcement?

Answer 2

Reinforcement is irregular

Question 3

What does continuous reinforcement lead to?

Answer 3

Rapid behavioural change. The effects don’t last if the reinforcer is removed

Question 4

What does partial reinforcement lead to?

Answer 4

Long term behavioural change

Question 5

What ways can you vary partial reinforcement?

Answer 5

Vary the ratio of behaviour to reinforcement

Vary the interval between reinforcements

(Both can be fixed of variable around a mean)

Question 6

What is the notation for partial reinforcement?

Answer 6

F (fixed) or V (variable)

Number indicates the ratio or interval

E.g FI3 is a fixed interval of 3 meaning three units of time must pass before another response can be rewarded

Question 7

What is a fixed ratio (FR) schedule?

Answer 7

The reinforcement is given after a specified number of behaviours (e.g. give a sweet every seventh time they wash up)

Question 8

What is a variable ratio schedule?

Answer 8

Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of behaviours that varies around a mean value (e.g. on VR3, reinforcer may come after 3,5,2,7 instances of the behaviour)

Question 9

What gives the better response out of fixed and variable ratio?

Answer 9

Fixed ratio as you know you can get the reward at a given point if you complete the behaviour

Question 10

What is a fixed interval (FI) schedule?

Answer 10

Time between reinforcers is constant

e.g. pay a child at the end of the time interval if he has washed up once or more within the interval

[Low level of responding as behaviour is typically done at the end of the interval]

Question 11

What is a variable interval (VI) schedule?

Answer 11

Time between reinforcers varies around a mean length of time. Only one behaviour per interval is needed for reinforcement

e.g. pay a child at the end of the interval if he washes up once or more but the interval varies in its length

[Produces most consistent behaviour]

Question 12

Outline Ford et al 2017 as an example of behaviour modification?

Answer 12

Used helmet sensors to assess head impact in American footballers. Reinforcement was given to high risk players when less force was on their head.

Mean impact intensity dropped by 3.9% overall and by 4.7% in the top of the head (lethal) so b.m. improved safety

Question 13

How does shaping work?

Answer 13

Starts by reinforcing behaviour vaguely like target behaviour. Reinforcement continues as behaviour gets closer to desired behaviour until reinforcement only occurs for the desired behaviour.

Question 14

How is shaping used in language acquisition for young children?

Answer 14

Infant babbling is initially reinforced by adult attention. Reinforcement only continues if the child produces recognisable words

Question 15

Strength of behaviour modification and Shaping?

Answer 15

Support from human and animal studies:

Latham and Dossett 1978 found mountain beaver trappers responded better to variable ratio pay ($4 for an animal if they also correctly guessed a marble colour) than fixed ratio pay ($1 per animal)

(Hundreds of lab and field studies on effects of partial reinforcement studies showing consistently the properties of the schedules)

Question 16

Weakness of behaviour modification and Shaping?

Answer 16

Reinforcement schedules ignore intrinsic motivation:

Reinforcement properties provide a detailed account of extrinsic motivation (effect of outside factors) when someone else offers us a reward)

But our behaviour is also a result of intrinsic (naturally feels good) motives. E.g. at work we may be just as motivated by interest and enjoyment as by money (extrinsic) however well they are scheduled

[Only a partial explanation for human motivation]

Question 17

Application of behaviour modification and Shaping?

Answer 17

Treats inappropriate behaviour:

Used to treat behaviours from schizophrenia to autism

Lovaas therapy involves intensive reinforcement (shaping) to normalise aspects of behaviour in autistic children (e.g reinforce eye contact) with proven results in integrating autistic people into regular society