Learning 3

Question 1

What the 3 main reinforcement schedules

Answer 1

1. continual reinforcement
2. partial reinforcement
3. differential reinforcement

Question 2

define continual reinforcement

Answer 2

every occurrence of the behaviour is paired with the reinforcer
- learning occurs rapidly
- extinction occurs rapidly

Question 3

define partial reinforcement

Answer 3

only some of the occurrences of the behaviour are paired with the reinforcer
- the lower the proportion of the behaviours that are paired with the reinforcer the more slowly conditioning occurs
- resistant to extinction

can be interval or ratio, fixed or variable

Question 4

define differential reinforcement

Answer 4

animals is given different valued rewards that reflect the quality of the performance
e.g. reward dog for above average response’s, give better rewards for better responses

Question 5

fixed ratio vs variable ratio

Answer 5

fixed - behaviour is reinforced only after behaviour occurs a specified number of times
faster you respond, the more rewards you get

variable - behaviour is reinforced after unpredictable number of times
very hard to extinguish because of unpredictability

Question 6

fixed interval vs variable interval

Answer 6

fixed - behaviour is reinforced only after specific time has elapsed
frequency of behaviour increases when the time of reward draws near

variable - behaviour is reinforced at unpredictable time intervals
produced slow, steady response

Question 7

what is shaping

Answer 7

shaping is the process of building a particular behaviour gradually using a small series of steps to achieve the final behaviour

Question 8

what are the two types of chaining

Answer 8

forward chaining and backwards chaining

Question 9

what are examples of factors that can affect learning

Answer 9

• motivation state (e.g. hunger)
• biological predisposition
• environment
• age