Chapter 10- Maintainance Schedules Flashcards
Schedule of reinforcement
A rule governing the delivery of reinforcers
Fixed Ratio Schedule
Provide reinforcers after the target behavior has occurred n number of times.
FR-1 (continuous reinforcement)= 1 to 1
Target behavior must occur a number of times before it is reinforced
Variable ratio schedule
Provide a reinforcer after the target behavior has occurred a number of times, with the number varying around an average of n.
Example, VR-5, a behavior may be reinforced after occurring three times, then seven times etc
FR-20, the person must perform the target behavior 20 times for every reinforcement.
Fixed Interval Schedule
Provide a reinforcer the first the target behavior occurs after an interval of n length since the last reinforcement
- A fixed amount of time must elapse since the last reinforced performance
- FR-2- means 2 minutes must elapse before the reinforcement is provided
Variable Interval schedule
Provide a reinforcer the first time the target behavior occurs after an interval, with the Interval varying around an average of n length.
The average Interval is 5 seconds
VI-5 - the behavior might be reinforced after an interval of 2 seconds, then after an interval of 7 seconds, 8 seconds
Fixed duration schedule:
Provide a reinforced after the target behavior has been performed continuously for a period of n length.
The reinforcer is earned by continuing to perform the target activity, piano playing, for the specified period.30 mins
Variable duration Schedule:
Provide a reinforcer after the target behavior has been performed continuously for a period, with the period varying around an average of n length.
Practice time for piano may vary from 10-50 mins….
Day 1… practice for 12 mins, gets snack.
Day 2… practice for 20 mins, gets snack etc
Maintenance schedule:
A reinforcement schedule that maintains a target behavior at a desired rate.
Scallop :
Ratio Strain:
A reduction in the rate of target behavior and an increase in emotional behavior resulting from increases in the ratio of behavior to reinforcement.
To prevent ratio strain, you need to avoid abrupt increases in the ratio. Instead, you gradually increase the requirement for reinforcement, procedure known as “stretching the ratio.”
Stretching the ratio:
Gradually increasing the number of times a behavior must be performed to qualify for reinforcement.
Contingency contract:
An agreement between two or more parties about what each is to do for the other.
The terms are written down so they can be referred to late in the event of a dispute.
Token economy:
A form of contingency contract, usually involving a group of people, in which the reinforcers are tokens.
- There’s a contractual arrangement involving a group of people, and (2) tokens are used as reinforcers.
Maintenance training:
Interventions procedures that increase the likelihood that changes in a target behavior will persist when the intervention is ended.
Building endurance
Maintainance training procedures
- Continue the intervention well after the target behavior has changed.
- Expose the target behavior to its natural reinforcers
- Teach the person to obtain reinforcement for the target behavior…
- Shape tolerance for delayed and uncertain reinforcement
- Fade the intervention program…
Scallop effect :
Fixed interval schedule tend to produce a low rate of performance that rapidly increases as the nonreinforcement interval nears its end. The scallop FI can be avoided with a variable interval schedule.
