Instrumental Conditioning

Question 1

Instrumental Conditioning:

Answer 1

the learning of a contingency between behaviour and consequence

Question 2

instrumental conditioning involves explicit training between

Answer 2

voluntary behaviours and their consequences

Question 3

a specific behaviour leads to

Answer 3

a specific consequence

Question 4

“stamping in” and “stamping out” determines

Answer 4

whether a behaviour was maintained or eliminated respectively

Question 5

Edward L. Thorndike and his puzzle box what behaviours were stamped in

Answer 5

Behaviours like rope pulling were stamped in because they were followed by the favourable consequence of access to food

Question 6

Edward L. Thorndike and his puzzle box what behaviours were stamped out

Answer 6

random behaviours like turning in a circle, were stamped out

Question 7

“stamping in” and “stamping out” leads to in regards to Thorndike puzzle box

Answer 7

process leads to refinement, and the cat learns the contingency between the specific behaviour of rope pulling and
the specific consequence of food reward

Question 8

Law of Effect:

Answer 8

Behaviours with positive consequences are stamped in and produced more frequently

Behaviours with negative consequences are stamped out and produced less frequently

Question 9

4 different types of instrumental conditioning

Answer 9

1. Presenting a positive reinforcer
2. Removing a positive reinforcer
3. Presenting a negative reinforcer
4. Removing a negative reinforcer

Question 10

Reward Training

Answer 10

the presentation of a positive reinforcer following a response which increase the frequency of the behaviour

Question 11

An example of reward training

Answer 11

if you present your puppy with a treat every time he sits on command, the behaviour is likely to increase

Question 12

Punishment Training:

Answer 12

the presentation of a negative reinforcer following a response that decreases the frequency of the behaviour

Question 13

An example of punishment training is:

Answer 13

if little Billy teases his sister, and his mother tugs his ear and scolds him, he will likely decrease the behaviour

Question 14

Omission Training

Answer 14

removing a positive reinforcer following a response that decreases the behaviour

Question 15

An Example of omission training is:

Answer 15

little Billy is doing his 2 favourite things, watching his favourite TV show and teasing his sister

• Billy’s mom wants to eliminate the teasing behaviour
• she decides to turn of the TV for 30 seconds every time Billy teases Sally
• access to the TV show is a positive reinforcer and removing it, will likely cause Billy to stop his teasing behaviour

Question 16

Escape Training:

Answer 16

removing a negative reinforcer following a response that increases the behaviour

a constant negative reinforcer being presented that the learner is motivated to have remove

Question 17

An example of escape training is:

Answer 17

ex. the floor of one side of a rats cage delivers a constant mild electric shock, it can be avoided if the rat moves to the opposite side of the cage

Question 18

Instrumental conditioning is that is proceeds best when (timing)

Answer 18

he consequence immediately follows the response

Question 19

Acquisition

Answer 19

When an organisms learns the contingency between a response and its consequence

Question 20

auto shaping is :

Answer 20

For simple behaviours

and can be learned without the careful guidance of the researcher

Question 21

shaping by excessive

approximation:

Answer 21

the complex behaviour can be organized into smaller steps which gradually build up to the full response that we hope to condition

Question 22

Discriminative Stimulus (SD/S+):

Answer 22

signals when a contingency between a particular response and reinforcement is on

Question 23

S∂ (S-):

Answer 23

a cue which indicates when the contingent relationship is not valid

Question 24

An example of Discriminative Stimulus (SD/S+):

Answer 24

ex. the environment of the childs parents home becomes an SD for the response of vegetable eating behaviour which is reinforced with access to a dessert reward

Question 25

An example of S∂ (S-):

Answer 25

ex. the environment of the grandparents house becomes an S∂ for the response of vegetable eating

Question 26

SD (S+ )and S∂ (S-)

Answer 26

are cues that predict wether or not the contingent relationship is valid or not

Question 27

In contrast to classical conditioning the CS is paired with a US to elicit a response The SD itself does not

Answer 27

elicit the response… the SD sets the occasion for a response by signalling when the response reinforcer outcome relationship is valid

Question 28

Continuous Reinforcement:

Answer 28

in all the above examples, a response leads to a reinforcer on every trial

Question 29

Partial Reinforcement:

Answer 29

can have reinforcement delivery

determined by either the total responses or time

Question 30

4 basic schedules of reinforcement

Answer 30

Fixed Ratio (FR-#)
Variable Ratio (VR-#)
Fixed interval ( FI-#)
Variable interval (VI-#)

Question 31

Ratio Schedules

- Fixed Ratio or Variable Ratio

Answer 31

Based on the # of responses made by a

subject which determines when reinforcement is given

Question 32

Interval Schedules

Fixed Interval or Variable interval

Answer 32

based on the times since the last response

that was reinforced

Question 33

FI- 10 Min Schedule

Answer 33

ex. a pigeon on a FI-10 min schedule, is rewarded with
food for the first pecking response after a 10 minute
period
- over an hour, the pigeon has the potential to only earn 6
food pellets

Question 34

Fixed Ratio

Answer 34

A fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement means that reinforcement should be delivered after a constant or “fixed” number of correct responses

subjects on this a fixed ratio schedule display a “pause and run” pattern

Question 35

Variable-Ratio Schedule (VR)

Answer 35

When using a variable-ratio (VR) schedule of reinforcement the delivery of reinforcement will “vary” but must average out at a specific number.

• ex. the reinforcement you may receive by playing a slot machine in a casino

Question 36

Fixed-Interval Schedule (FI)

Answer 36

A fixed-interval schedule means that reinforcement becomes available after a specific period of time.

Question 37

Variable-Interval Schedule (VI)

Answer 37

The variable-interval (VI) schedule of reinforcement means the time periods that must pass before reinforcement becomes available will “vary” but must average out at a specific time interval.

Question 38

the slope of a variable ratio schedule’s will look like…

Answer 38

may look like a diagonal line with no pauses between

- Reflects the average # of responses required before reinforcement is delivered

Question 39

An example of Fixed-Interval Schedule (FI)

Answer 39

a course with weekly quizzes
- this will mean that study behaviour responses will start
ramping up just before the quiz

Question 40

Fixed-Interval Schedule (FI) will look like…

Answer 40

following reinforcement, there is a lull period in which
responding drops then slowly starts picking up again and peaking just before the next reinforcement is scheduled to be delivered following a response

Question 41

Variable-Interval Schedule (VI) will look like…

Answer 41

is shown as a straight line on the cumulative record