Chapter 6, Exam #2

Question 1

cumulative responses

Answer 1

number of responses

Question 2

response rate

Answer 2

number of responses over time

Question 3

continuous reinforcement

Answer 3

a correct response is reinforced every time it occurs

Question 4

Intermittent (partial) reinforcement

Answer 4

reinforcement occurs for some responses but not all

Question 5

ratio schedule

Answer 5

reinforcement is based on the number of responses (the ratio of reinforced to non reinforced responses

Question 6

interval schedule

Answer 6

reinforcement is based on the time since the last reinforced response

Question 7

Fixed ratio (FR)

Answer 7

the number of reinforced responses is a fixed number

Question 8

Variable ratio (VR)

Answer 8

the number of reinforced responses varies

Question 9

Post-reinforcement pause

Answer 9

a pause in responding following reinforcement, associated primarily with FI and FR schedules

Question 10

run rate

Answer 10

the rate at which a behavior occurs once it has resumed reinforcement

Question 11

Fixed interval (FI)

Answer 11

The amount of time the animal must wait until the next response is reinforced is fixed

Question 12

Variable interval (VI)

Answer 12

The number of reinforced responses varies

Question 13

Fixed time (FT)

Answer 13

reinforce is delivered after a period of time without regard to behavior

Question 14

Variable time (VT)

Answer 14

reinforcers delivered at irregular intervals, regardless of behavior

Question 15

Fixed duration (FD)

Answer 15

Reinforcer is delivered if a behavior occurs continuously over a period of time

Question 16

Variable duration (VD)

Answer 16

Required period of performance varies around some average

Question 17

Differential reinforcement of low rates (DRL)

Answer 17

rates of responding can be achieved by reinforcing lower levels of the behavior

Question 18

Differential reinforcement of high rates (DRH)

Answer 18

rates of responding refers to situations in which the reinforcement is contingent on rapid responding

Question 19

Differential reinforcement of zero responses (DRO)

Answer 19

demonstrated by reinforcing the behavior of not responding

Question 20

Differential reinforcement of alternative responses (DRA)

Answer 20

combination of reinforcement and extinction
Rate of alternative behavior increases, the undesired behavior will start to extinguish due to reduction in whatever was reinforcing the problem behavior

Question 21

Differential reinforcement of incompatible responses (DRI)

Answer 21

identifying an alternative behavior that just distracts the person from the target behavior, but runs counter to the behavior

Question 22

ratio stretch

Answer 22

start the animal out on a low ratio schedule (FR-1) then gradually increase the ratio (FR-3, FR-5, FR-10) stretching too fast or far creates strain

Question 23

ratio strain

Answer 23

disruption of the pattern of responding due to stretching the ratio of reinforcement too abruptly or too far

Question 24

Partial reinforcement effect

Answer 24

the tendency of a behavior to be more resistant to extinction following partial reinforcement than following continuous reinforcement

Question 25

Resistance to extinction

Answer 25

intermittent (partial) reinforcement schedules, compared to continuous reinforcement schedules, make animals reluctant to give up responding when the reinforcers stop

Question 26

Fixed ratio ex

Answer 26

the stair-step function: pierce rate, fixed commission

Question 27

Variable ratio ex

Answer 27

the high, steady-rate function: telemarket sales, slot machines

Question 28

Fixed interval ex

Answer 28

scalloped function: asking for a raise, studying for exam

Question 29

Variable interval ex

Answer 29

the low, steady-rate function: management by walking around, spot bonuses

Question 30

Fixed time ex

Answer 30

FT-10 means the animal gets a reinforcer after 10 seconds no matter what it happens to be doing

Question 31

variable time ex

Answer 31

VT-10 means the reinforcer is delivered every 10 seconds, on average, sometimes more, sometimes less

Question 32

fixed duration ex

Answer 32

practice violin for 30 consecutive minutes to get an ice cream cone

Question 33

variable duration ex

Answer 33

child playing piano, but lesson time is variable and there is no knowing when reinforcer will appear

Question 34

DRL ex

Answer 34

press the bar every 5 seconds. Used to help people slow down

Question 35

DRH ex

Answer 35

press bar 5 times during every 10-second interval. Used to help people speed up

Question 36

ratio stretch

Answer 36

FR-1 then gradually increases to FR-3, FR-5, FR-10. Stretching too fast or far creates ratio strain (responding is disrupted)

Question 37

Sequential Hypothesis-

Answer 37

The sequence of reinforced and non-reinforced responses becomes a cue for future responding. An animal performs longer in the absence of reinforcement following intermittent rewards because non-reinforced trials are cues to keep on responding

Question 38

Response Unit Hypothesis

Answer 38

The response should not be defined as a single behavior. The “response” is whatever complex actions (“units” of behavior) lead to a reinforcement

Question 39

Discrimination Hypothesis

Answer 39

it is harder for the animal to discriminate between an intermittent schedule and extinction than between continuous reinforcement and extinction (i.e., the animal can’t tell when partial reinforcement ends and extinction begins)

Question 40

Frustration Hypothesis

Answer 40

There is greater frustration for animals who switch from continuous reinforcement to extinction than for animals who switch from partial reinforcement to extinction. Frustrated animals stop responding sooner