Chapter 5a Flashcards
schedule of reinforcement
a prescription that states how and when discriminative stimuli and behavioral consequences will be presented
steady-state performance
after an animal has extensive experience with the contingency of reinforcement and are exposed to a schedule of reinforcement behavior becomes more consistent
continuous reinforcement (CRF)
every operant required by the contingency is reinforced
simplest schedule of reinforcement
ratio schedules
deliver reinforcement following a prescribed number of responses; response based
the ratio specifies the number of responses required for reinforcement
interval schedules
one response is made after some amount of time is passed
can be fixed or variable
fixed ratio (FR)
programmed to deliver reinforcement after a fixed number of responses have been made
break-and-run
like a set of stairs; steep period of responding followed by reinforcement and finally a flat portion
Postreinforcement pause (PRP)
the flat part of the cumulative record
preratio pause
also known as the PRP when upcoming requirements exert predominant control over the PRP
variable ratio (VR)
the number of responses required for reinforcement changes after each reinforcer is presented
fixed-interval (FI)
an operant is reinforced after a fixed amount of time has passed
scalloping
pattern of response when there is a pause after reinforcement, then a few probe responses, then more and more rapid responding due to a constant high rate as the interval times out
assumption of generality
implies that the effects of contingencies of reinforcement extend over species, reinforcement, and behavior
variable-interval (VI)
responses are reinforced after a variable amount of time has passed
limited-hold
reinforcer is available for a set time after a variable interval
when added to a VI schedule this increases the rate of responding by reinforcing short interresponse times
