chapter 9 - shaping

Question 1

shaping is the ___________________ of ___________________ of a _________________ until the person exhibits the ___________________

Answer 1

differential reinforcement

successive approximations

target behaviour

target behaviour

Question 2

differential reinforcement involves basic principles of ______________ and _______________

Answer 2

reinforcement and extinction

Question 3

differential reinforcement occurs when:

what happens as a result?

Answer 3

one particular behaviour is reinforced and all other behaviours are not reinforced in a particular situation

as a result, the reinforced behaviour increases and the behaviours that are not reinforced decrease through extinction

Question 4

shaping steps are called:

Answer 4

successive approximations

Question 5

shaping can be used to… (3)

Answer 5

1. generate a novel behaviour
2. reinstate a previously exhibited behaviour
3. change some dimension of an existing behaviour

Question 6

How to use shaping (7 steps)

Answer 6

1. define target behaviour
2. determine whether shaping is the most appropriate procedure
3. identify the starting behaviour
4. choose the shaping steps
5. choose the reinforcer
6. differentially reinforce each successive approximation
7. move through the shaping steps at a proper pace

Question 7

for shaping, whats important about picking the starting behaviour

Answer 7

they must already engage in it occasionally

must be relevant to the target behaviour

Question 8

what are some key aspects of choosing the shaping steps?

Answer 8

• they must master each step before moving on
• each step must be closer approximation to the Tx
• steps can’t be too small or too large
  
  • small: progress will be too slow
  • large: progress could stall

Question 9

during shaping, what’s important about choosing and giving the reinforcer

Answer 9

• must be delivered immediately contingent on appropriate Bx
• avoid satiation (amount of reinforcer is important)

Question 10

during shaping, what are the steps to differentially reinforcing each successive approximation

Answer 10

• reinforce starting Bx until it occurs reliably
• then start reinforcing next approximation
• NO LONGER reinforce the previous approximation
• repeat

Question 11

why is it important to move through the shaping steps at a proper pace?

Answer 11

• reinforcing an approximation too many times may make it difficult to move forward. they may continue to engage in previous approximation

BUT ALSO
- if they dont master the approximation, it may be impossible or difficult to progress

Question 12

what’s something that could go wrong with shaping, something you may be unaware of

Answer 12

you may unintentionally shape a problem behaviour with shaping

• successive approximations of an undesired Bx get reinforced

Question 13

whats something that can help avoid satiation while delivering a reinforcer?

Answer 13

tokens or praise

Question 14

shaping involves reinforcement only (T or F)

Answer 14

false. shaping involves reinforcement AND extinction

Question 15

shaping involves differential reinforcement of _________________ of a target Bx

Answer 15

successive approximations

Question 16

in shaping, the first Bx chosen for reinforcement is called the ______________

Answer 16

starting Bx

Question 17

what 2 behavioural principles are involved in differential reinforcement?

Answer 17

reinforcement and extinction

Question 18

what conditioned reinforcer might a trainer utilize when using shaping to get a dolphin to do tricks?

Answer 18

a clicker

Question 19

it is important to use a __________ reinforcer to be able to deliver the reinforcer immediately after the desired Bx during shaping

Answer 19

conditioned

Question 20

shaping can be used for 3 different outcomes
1. generate a __________ Bx
2. reinstate a ___________ Bx
3. change some ___________ of an existing Bx

Answer 20

novel

previously exhibited

dimension/aspect

Question 21

you would not need to use shaping when __________ could be used to get the person to engage in the target Bx

Answer 21

prompting, modeling, instructions

Question 22

mikey shares his toys only occasionally when he is playing with his friends. you want him to share more often. is shaping a necessary procedure to use?

Answer 22

no. you can just reinforce the Bx since its already occurring

Question 23

shaping involves ____________ of successive approximations of a target Bx

Answer 23

differential reinforcement

Question 24

the steps in a shaping procedure are called

Answer 24

successive approximations

Question 25

name three shaping steps that are reinforced when teaching a young child to talk:

Answer 25

making sounds / babbling

saying “da” , “ma”

saying part words

saying whole words

Question 26

it is important to use a CR during shaping for 2 reasons:

Answer 26

so the reinforcer can be delivered immediately after the Bx

so that the reinforcer does not lose its effectiveness through satiation

Question 27

if you were using shaping to get a rat to press a lever, pressing the lever would be called the

Answer 27

target Bx