Ch. 11

Question 1

complex contingencies of reinforcement

Answer 1

contingencies require more than one response

-contingencies involve passage of time

Question 2

continuous reinforcement

Answer 2

each instances of response is reinforced

Question 3

extinction

Answer 3

response never reinforced

Question 4

intermittent reinforcement

Answer 4

response is sometimes but not always reinforced

Question 5

schedule of reinforcement

Answer 5

specifies nature of contingent relation between a response and its reinforcer

Question 6

2 schedule categories studied by Ferster and Skinner (1957)

Answer 6

1) ratio schedules of reinforcement

2) interval schedules of reinforcement

Question 7

ratio schedule of reinforcement

Answer 7

of responses that must be made in order for reinforcer to be delivered

-specify price of reinforcer

Question 8

2 types of ratio schedules

Answer 8

1) fixed-ratio schedules of reinforcement

2) variable-ratio schedules of reinforcement

Question 9

fixed-ratio (FR) schedule

Answer 9

of responses required per reinforcer is the same every time

-does not matter how much time passes between responses

Question 10

cumulative record

Answer 10

graphical display of responding as it unfolds over time

Question 11

typical pattern of responding under an FR schedule of reinforcement

Answer 11

post-reinforcement pause followed by high-constant rate of responding that ends w/ a reinforcer

-break-and-run pattern: subject takes break before responses “runs” to reinforcer

Question 12

theory of post-reinforcement pause

Answer 12

individual learned how contingency of reinforcement operates

-learned that after a reinforcer, FR response counter is reset to zero

-distance to next reinforcer is aversive and can evoke neg. emotions, aggression, and escape

Question 13

variable-ratio (VR) schedule

Answer 13

number of responses required per reinforcer isn’t the same every time

-numerical value corresponds to average # of responses required per reinforcer

-one can’t predict which response will be reinforced

Question 14

typical pattern if responding under a VR schedule

Answer 14

high-rate of responding with little to no post-reinforcement pause

-reinforcers irregularly spaced because # of responses per reinforcer is variable

Question 15

interval schedule of reinforcement

Answer 15

specifies amount of time that must elapse before a response will produce the reinforcer

Question 16

2 types of interval schedules

Answer 16

1) fixed-interval schedule
2) variable-interval schedule

Question 17

fixed-interval (FI) schedule

Answer 17

specifies constant time interval that must elapse before a response will produce the reinforcer

-tell about an individual’s perception of the passage of time

Question 18

typical FI response pattern of nonhuman subjects

Answer 18

post-reinforcement pause gives way to accelerating response rate that terminates with a reinforcer

-scallop pattern

Question 19

variable-interval (VI) schedule

Answer 19

amount of time that must elapse before first response is reinforced is not the same every time

-numerical value of schedule specifies average interval of time that separates reinforcer availabilities

Question 20

typical pattern of responding under a VI schedule

Answer 20

steady, moderate response with little to no post-reinforcement pause