instrumental conditioning

Question 1

Instrumental conditioning or operant conditioning

Answer 1

Learning a contingency between a behaviour and a consequence
A key difference from classical conditioning is that here we are considering overt behaviours that are operated by an actor leading to a reinforcer

Question 2

Law of effect

Answer 2

Behaviours with positive consequences are stamped in and performed frequently
Behaviours with negative consequences are stamped out and performed less frequently

Question 3

Reinforcer

Answer 3

Any stimulus that is presented after a response that impacts the frequency that the response is performed. Behaviours can be changed through either presentation or removal of reinforcers

Question 4

Presentation of a positive reinforcer and removal of a negative reinforcer

Answer 4

Increase in behaviour

Question 5

Presentation of a negative reinforcer and removal of a positive reinforcer

Answer 5

Decrease in behaviour

Question 6

Reward training

Answer 6

Presents a positive reinforcer to encourage a behavior

Question 7

Punishment training

Answer 7

Presents a negative reinforcer to discourage a behaviour. This could be unethical or authority figure that may inflict fear

Question 8

Omission training

Answer 8

Removes a positive reinforcer to discourage a behaviour. Time out is an example of this. Punishment and omission lead to decrease in unwanted behaviours they use different methods

Question 9

Escape training

Answer 9

Removes a negative reinforcer to encourage a behaviour

Question 10

Acquisition

Answer 10

Learning a contingency between a response and its consequence and acquisition depends on the response rate of a behaviour

Question 11

Cumulative graph for the response rate of a behaviour

Answer 11

Horizontal line = no response
Upward slope= a response has been made
The pattern of responding depends on the participant, the complexity of the behavior and the type of behaviour used. Y axis is the cumulative behaviour and x axis is time

Question 12

Auto shaping

Answer 12

Learned without any direct guidance. An example pigeon in a cage pecks the keyhole and gets a grain. This contingency is learned without any help

Question 13

Shaping through successive approximation

Answer 13

Used for behaviours that are too complex to be auto shaped through gradual smaller approximations and rewards are presented. Used by animal trainers.

Question 14

chaining

Answer 14

A technique used to develop a sequence of behaviors. Each behaviour is reinforced with the opportunity to perform the best behaviour in a sequence. Helpful for learning complex behaviour

Question 15

Shaping vs chaining

Answer 15

Shaping: a closer approximation of the desired final behavior than the behaviour last reinforced. Reinforcement on the basis of improvement
Chaining: Reinforces the behaviour so long as it is performed in a defined order. Behaviour and order are set prior to the training

Question 16

Discriminative stimulus (SD/S+)

Answer 16

Indicates when a contingency is valid

Question 17

SDelta/S-

Answer 17

Indicates a contingency is invalid

Question 18

Partial reinforcement

Answer 18

Follow a ratio (responses) or interval schedule (time). Both can be fixed or variable

Question 19

Four basic schedules of reinforcement

Answer 19

Fixed ratio (FR), variable ratio (VR)
Fixed interval (FI), Variable Interval (VI)

Question 20

Fixed ratio

Answer 20

May lead to ratio strain. It follows a pause and run pattern for behavioral responses

Question 21

Variable ratio

Answer 21

Schedules reinforcement after a set average number of responses and can support a high response rate of behaviour or climbing slope

Question 22

Fixed interval

Answer 22

Delivers reinforcement after a set interval of time. Rarely seen outside of the lab

Question 23

Variable interval

Answer 23

Deliver reinforcement after a Sey average amount of time. Steady rate response (straight line)

Question 24

Robust learning

Answer 24

Partial reinforcement is better than continuous reinforcement and less susceptible to extinction. Variable schedule is more robust than fixed schedules

Question 25

Primary reinforcer

Answer 25

reinforcer with intrinsic value like food, water, mate

Question 26

Secondary reinforcer

Answer 26

Reinforcer through previous learning and can be exchanged for a primary reinforcer. Example money

Question 27

Negative contrast

Answer 27

A response originally receiving a high reward is shifted to a lower reward resulting in reduced response

Question 28

Positive contrast

Answer 28

A response originally receiving a low reward is shifted to a high reward resulting in increased response

Question 29

Over justification effect

Answer 29

Promoting intrinsic motivation is important for the long term adoption of a behaviour. Because if one relies on the extrinsic rewards, when the rewards stop they will lose motivation

Question 30

Mirror neurons

Answer 30

Most organisms generate involuntary motor responses roughly equivalent to that of any behaviour they observe