CHP 11 COMPLEX CONTINGENCIES OF REINFORCEMENT

Question 1

Schedule of reinforcement

Answer 1

discovered by Skinner, precisely specifies the nature of the contingent relation between a response and its reinforcer (tells us exactly how the response-reinforcer contingency works)

Question 2

Fixed-ratio (FR)

Answer 2

the number of responses required per reinforcer is the same every time regardless of how much time passes between responses

Question 3

Variable-ratio (VR)

Answer 3

the number of responses required per reinforcer isn’t the same every time. The numerical value corresponds to the average number (mean value) of responses required per reinforcer

Question 4

Fixed-interval (FI)

Answer 4

specifies a constant time interval that must elapse before a single reponse will produce the reinforcer

Question 5

Variable interval (VI)

Answer 5

the amount of time that must elapse before the first response is reinforced isn’t the same every time. The numerical value of the schedule specifies the average interval of time that separates reinforcer availability

Question 6

FR patterns of behavior

Answer 6

a post-reinforcer pause followed by a high-constant rate of responding that ends w a reinforcer (“break-and-run” for nonhuman subjects)
2nd most effective

Question 7

VR pattern of behavior

Answer 7

a high-rate of resonding with little or no post-reinforcement pause (the reinforcers are irregularly spaced)
most effective

Question 8

FI pattern of behavior

Answer 8

a post-reinforcement pause gives way to an accelerating response rate (a “scallop”) that terminates with a reinforcer, VERBAL humans don’t respond at a high rate on FI schedules bc they understand the concept of the passing of time, so they just respond right after the time interval is up
least effective

Question 9

VI pattern of behavior

Answer 9

a steady, moderate response rate with little/no post-reinforcement pause, the response rate is fairly constant at a low/moderate rate, delivery of reinforcers is irregular
3rd most effective

Question 10

When the price (FR requirement) increases…

Answer 10

total responses increase, but if the FR requirement is too high, the responses stop

Question 11

Which schedule of reinforcement is most effective?

Answer 11

Variable ratio

Question 12

Schedule thinning

Answer 12

a procedure for gradually reducing the rate of reinforcement, while maintaining the desired behavior