Chapter 5: Models to explain learning Part 2

Question 1

What is reinforcement?

Answer 1

Occurs when a stimulus strengthens or increases the frequency or likelihood of a response that it follows.

Question 2

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 2

Any stimulus (event or action) that subsequently strengthens or increases the likelihood of the response (behaviour) that it follows.

Question 3

What is a positive reinforcer? Give an example:

Answer 3

A stimulus which strengthens a response by providing a pleasant or satisfying consequence.
Eg. Being given money for doing homework

Question 4

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 4

Involves giving or applying a positive reinforcer after the desired response has been made.

Question 5

What is a negative reinforcer? Give an example:

Answer 5

A stimulus that strengthens a response by the reduction, removal or prevention of an unpleasant stimulus.
Eg. Taking panadol to relieve a headache

Question 6

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 6

Involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus.

Question 7

What is the difference between positive an negative reinforcement and what is a similarity between them?

Answer 7

• Positive reinforcement adds + consequences, whereas, negative reinforcement takes away - consequences.
• Both strengthen a response

Question 8

What is a punisher?

Answer 8

An unpleasant stimulus that when paired with a response weakens the response or decreases the rate of responding over time.

Question 9

What is punishment?

Answer 9

The delivery of an unpleasant consequence following a response, or the removal of a pleasant consequence following a response.

Question 10

What is positive punishment? Give an example:

Answer 10

The delivery of a stimulus following an undesirable response, which thereby decreases the likelihood of the response occurring again.
Eg. Having to do chores for swearing

Question 11

What is negative punishment (response cost)? Give an example:

Answer 11

The removal of a stimulus following an undesired response, thereby decreasing the likelihood of a response occurring again.
Eg. Getting a 0 for submitting a SAC late

Question 12

What does response cost involve? Give an example:

Answer 12

The removal of any stimulus, whether or not it causes the behaviour.
Eg. The response cost for being rude to a teacher might be a loss of valued lunchtime through detention

Question 13

When does stimulus generalisation occur in relation to OC?

Answer 13

When the correct response is made to another stimulus which is similar to the stimulus for which reinforcement is obtained.

Question 14

What does stimulus discrimination occur in relation to OC?

Answer 14

When an organism makes the correct response to a stimulus for which reinforcement is obtained but not for any other similar stimulus.

Question 15

List 3 factors which effect reinforcement:

Answer 15

• Order of presentation
• Timing
• Appropriateness of the reinforcer

Question 16

How does the order of presentation effect reinforcement?

Answer 16

Reinforcement needs to occur after the desired response, but not before, so that the organism associates the reinforcement with the behaviour.

Question 17

How does timing effect reinforcement?

Answer 17

Reinforcers need to occur as close in time to the desired response as possible, where the most effective reinforcement occurs immediately after the desired response.

Question 18

How does the appropriateness of the reinforcer effect reinforcement?

Answer 18

For a stimulus to be a reinforcer it must provide a pleasing or satisfying consequence for its recipient.

Question 19

List the 3 key processes in operant conditioning:

Answer 19

• Acquisition
• Extinction
• Spontaneous recovery

Question 20

What is acquisition in relation to OC?

Answer 20

The overall learning process in which a response or pattern is established through reinforcement.

Question 21

What is extinction in relation to OC?

Answer 21

The gradual decrease in the strength or rate of responding after a period of non-reinforcement until reinforcement is terminated.

Question 22

What is spontaneous recovery in relation to OC?

Answer 22

The response is (after a rest period) again shown in the absence of reinforcement, but is likely to be weaker and short lived.

Question 23

What is the behaviour phase of the 3 phase model of OC? Give an example:

Answer 23

The voluntary behaviour that occurs in the presence of the discriminative stimulus.
-What happens
Eg. Getting out of bed once your alarm goes off

Question 24

What is the consequence phase of the 3 phase model of OC? Give an example:

Answer 24

The event that occurs immediately after the event and determines whether the behaviour will be repeated.
-What happens after
Eg. Getting ready for the day after your alarm goes off and you get out of bed

Question 25

What is the antecedent phase of the 3 phase model of OC? Give an example:

Answer 25

The stimulus (object or event) that precedes a particular response.
-What happened before
Eg. Alarm going off in the morning

Question 26

Describe the 3 phase model of operant conditioning:

Answer 26

1. Antecedent: Organism is placed in a situation (environment) - conditions are right
2. Behaviour: Organism produces a behaviour
3. Consequence (reinforcement or punishment): There is a consequence for this behaviour which determines future behaviour.