Chapter 6 Flashcards
Schedule effects
Distinctive rate and pattern of responding associated with the particular pattern of reinforcement
Schedules of reinforcement
The manner in which reinforcers for behavior are delivered
Continuous reinforcement
Schedule in which a target behavior is reinforced every time it occurs
Simplest
Rare in natural environment
Good to start with for training
Intermittent schedules
Behavior is reinforced on some occasions but not others
Fixed ratio schedule
A behavior is reinforced but it has occurred a fixed number of times
Post reinforcement pauses
Drop off in target behavior that are observed after reinforcement has been delivered in fixed ratio schedules
The more work required for each reinforcement the longer the pause
Run rate
The rate at which behavior occurs once it has resumed, following reinforcement
Variable ratio schedules
Number of behaviors required in order to earn reinforcement Varies around an average
Typically produces more behavior in a span of time going to comparable fixed ratio schedule because they can’t predict when they’re going to be reinforced next
Common in natural environment
Fixed interval schedules
Target behavior is reinforced the first time it occurs after a specific interval of time
A
Post reinforcement pauses (fixed interval schedules)
Usually almost no target behaviors immediately after reinforcement has been received, and then steady increase to a high rate of behavior by the end of the interval
Variable interval schedules
Length of the interval during which performance is not reinforced varies around some average
Research shows that animals have some preference for particular types of reinforcement schedules even when, over the long run, the amount of work required is about the same
Fixed duration schedule
Reinforcement is contingent on the continuous performance of the behavior for some constant period of time
Professional athletes have to perform a certain way in order to get their contract payday
Variable duration schedule
Required period of Sustained performance varies around some average amount of time
Differential reinforcement of lower rate DRL
Form of differential reinforcement in which a behavior is reinforced only if it occurs no more than a specified number of times in a given period
Clock resets if behavior occurs before the time period had elapsed, do premature behavior only delays reinforcement
Differential reinforcement of high rate DRH
Behavior is reinforced only if the curse of these to specified number of times in a given period
DRH schedules help increase rate of behavior