Chapter 8: Schedules Of Reinforcement

Question 1

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT

Answer 1

The contingent presentation of a particular stimulus after the occurrence of a target behavior that increases the probability that the target behavior will occur in the future.

Question 2

SCHEDULE OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 2

A rule that specifies the conditions under which a behavior produces reinforcement. Factors:
1. The time elapsed between responses
2. Number of responses
3. Some other characteristic of the response

Question 3

RATIO SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 3

Schedules arranged by the number of responses made by the subject. The schedule will specify the number of responses the subject must make before one response will result in reinforcement. Response rate controls the rate of reinforcement.

Question 4

INTERVAL SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 4

Reinforcement is dependent on the passage of time.

Question 5

FIXED SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 5

Schedules with a constant response ratio or a constant interval requirement.

Question 6

VARIABLE SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 6

Schedules in which the response ratio requirement or interval requirement, fluctuates, so reinforcement is provided after an average number of responses or an average duration of time.

Question 7

THE FOUR BASIC SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 7

1. Fixed Ratio
2. Variable Ration
3. Fixed Interval
4. Variable Interval

Question 8

FIXED RATIO SCHEDULE

Answer 8

A schedule of intermittent reinforcement in which a response is reinforced upon completion of a fixed number of responses counted from the preceding reinforcement. Produces a fast rate of response, which may include inappropriate fluencies and unnecessary errors, so attention to accuracy of response is key.

Abbreviated: FR[# of responses]

Question 9

POST-REINFORCEMENT PAUSE

Answer 9

Pause in responding after reinforcement in a fixed-ratio or fixed-interval schedule. The size of the ratio/interval impacts the response rate AND the length of the post-reinforcement pause.

Question 10

RATIO RUN

Answer 10

Return to high rate of responding after post-reinforcement pause in fixed-ratio schedule.

Question 11

RATIO STRAIN

Answer 11

When response declines after the schedule of reinforcement has been thinned too quickly.

Question 12

VARIABLE-RATIO SCHEDULE OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 12

A schedule of intermittent reinforcement under which reinforcers are programmed according to a random series of ratios having a given mean and lying between arbitrary extreme values.

Abbreviated VR___. (VR5 would mean reinforcement delivered on average after every fifth response.)

VR schedules have high rates of responding, but post-reinforcement pause is reduced or eliminated because the probability of reinforcement remains constant.

Question 13

FIXED INTERVAL SCHEDULE OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 13

An intermittent schedule of reinforcement in which the first response occurring after a given interval of time is reinforced.

Abbreviated FI___, where the number indicates the time interval.

Question 14

SCALLOPING

Answer 14

Effect in a fixed-interval schedule where there is a slow response rate at the beginning of the interval and a paid response rate later in the interval, just prior to reinforcement.

Question 15

LIMITED HOLD

Answer 15

A variation in an interval schedule which specifies the amount of time a reinforcer is available following expiration of the interval.

In FI10m/LH15s, the reinforcer would be available for 15 seconds after expiration of each 10-minute interval. After the interval elapses, the next response will produced reinforcement if it occurs before the limited hold expires.

Question 16

VARIABLE-INTERVAL SCHEDULE OF REINFORCEMENT

Answer 16

A schedule of intermittent reinforcement in which reinforcement is programmed according to a random series of intervals having a given mean and lying between arbitrary extreme values. Rates of response under VI schedules tend to be consistent and stable with few post-reinforcement pauses or scalloping, because the subject cannot predict the length of the interval.

Abbreviated VI__, with number measure indicating the average duration of the interval.

Question 17

SCHEDULE THINNING

Answer 17

Reducing the frequency of reinforcement or requiring a greater number if appropriate responses to produce reinforcement. Transition from a dense to a thinner schedule is typically based on individual’s performance on the original schedule. The purpose of thinning is to MAINTAIN responding.

*RATIO STRAIN may occur if the ratio/interval requirement is changed too quickly to support a steady rate of responding.

Question 18

EXTINCTION

Answer 18

Withholding reinforcement for a previously reinforced response, which results in a decrease in the rate of the behavior. The purpose is to EXTINGUISH the response. Some principles:

1. Intermittent schedules are more resistant to extinction than continuous schedules.
2. Variable schedules are more resistant to extinction than fixed schedules.
3. To some extent, thinner schedules can be more resistant to extinction than dense schedules.

Question 19

EXTINCTION BURST

Answer 19

When an individual continues to make the previously reinforced response at an increased rate and intensity after reinforcement is withheld.

Question 20

SPONTANEOUS RECOVERY

Answer 20

When an individual exhibits the response again even in the absence of the reinforcer.

Question 21

DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF LOW RATES OF BEHAVIOR (DRL)

Answer 21

A schedule under which reinforcement is delivered when the number of responses in a given period is less than or equal to a set maximum rate.

Question 22

DIFFERENTIAL REINFORCEMENT OF HIGH RATES (DRH)

Answer 22

A schedule in which reinforcement is delivered when a specified maximum (or greater) number of responses occurs within a set amount of time.