Learning part 2

Question 1

What is Thorndike’s Law of Effect?

Answer 1

The law states that in a given situation, a response followed by a satisfying consequence will become more likely to occur and a response followed by an annoying consequence will become less likely to occur.

In other words, organisms instinctively do what pleases them.

Question 2

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 2

A consequence that increases the probability of a behaviour recurring.

Question 3

What is a punisher?

Answer 3

A consequence that decreases the probability of a behaviour recurring.

Question 4

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 4

When an organism’s behaviours are shaped by consequences; what happens after their actions.

Question 5

What is another name for operant conditioning?

Answer 5

Instrumental conditioning

Question 6

What did Edward Thorndike do?

Answer 6

Studied intelligence in cats using a puzzle box.

Came up with the Law of Effect theory

Question 7

Who provided the definitions of punishment and reinforcement?

Answer 7

B.F. Skinner

Question 8

What is operant behaviour?

Answer 8

A “class” of behaviours that are all from the same category.

They’re not always the same behaviour.

E.g. Studying behaviour = behaviours that surround studying like reading and writing

Question 9

What does it mean to strengthen or weaken a behaviour?

Answer 9

Strengthen = increase frequency of behaviour

Weaken = decrease frequency of behaviour

Question 10

What are operant consequences?

Answer 10

The events/outcomes that influence the probability of a behaviour recurring.

They either increase or decrease the probability of a behaviour being performed again.

Question 11

If a behaviour’s probability increases due to something being added to the situation, what process has occurred? Provide an example.

Answer 11

Positive Reinforcement

Example:
Do a shift -> get paid -> work more shifts

Question 12

If a behaviour’s probability increases due to something being taken away from the situation, what process has occurred? Provide an example.

Answer 12

Negative Reinforcement

Example:
Open umbrella -> escape from the rain open -> umbrellas more often

Question 13

If a behaviour’s probability decreases due to something being added to the situation, what process has occurred? Provide an example.

Answer 13

Positive Punishment

Example:
Swat at wasp -> get stung -> swat at wasps less

Question 14

If a behaviour’s probability increases due to something being taken away from the situation, what process has occurred? Provide an example.

Answer 14

Negative Punishment

Example:
Commit crime -> go to jai -> commit less crime

Question 15

What is acquisition in operant conditioning?

Answer 15

Acquisition is the gradual strengthening of the frequency of an operant behaviour when it is followed by the consequence.

Question 16

What is extinction in operant conditioning?

Answer 16

Extinction is the gradual weakening of the frequency of the operant response when it is no longer followed by the consequence.

Question 17

What is spontaneous recovery in operant conditioning?

Answer 17

Spontaneous recovery is the re-emergence of a previously extinguished response after a delay.

Question 18

What is shaping in operant conditioning?

Answer 18

Shaping is used to reinforce a behaviour that is infrequent or does not occur at all.

The shaping involves reinforcing closer and closer approximations of the desired behaviour.

Question 19

What is an example of shaping?

Answer 19

A student trying to learn a musical piece, the instructor provides positive reinforcement in stages to shape the students playing:

1. They’re first complimented by just trying to play
2. Only complimented when the piece resembles the song
3. Only complimented when they play the piece entirely.

The student wants positive affirmations so they strive to reach the new goals set by the instructor.

Question 20

What are primary reinforcers?

Answer 20

Things we find naturally or innately reinforcing and requires no training to be effective as a reinforcer.

E.g., food, water, sex

Question 21

What are secondary reinforcers?

Answer 21

Things that have become reinforcing because they have been associated with a primary reinforcer - requires training to be an effective reinforcer.

E.g., money, good grades

Question 22

What is generalisation in operant conditioning?

Answer 22

When an organism performs the same behaviour(s) in new similar situations.

E.g., talking respectfully to your new boss

Question 23

What is discrimination in operant conditioning?

Answer 23

Occurs when we perform a behaviour in some circumstances and not others.

E.g., traffic lights are always on but we only go on green, not red.

Question 24

What are the 2 factors affecting operant conditioning?

Answer 24

1. Timing
2. Magnitude of punisher/reinforcer

Question 25

Describe the effect of timing in operant conditioning.

Answer 25

Consequence should follow the behaviour immediately

If there is a delay another behaviour can be accidentally punished/reinforced.

Question 26

Describe the effect of the magnitude of a punisher/reinforcer in operant conditioning.

Answer 26

In general, bigger rewards/punishers have more powerful impacts on behaviour.

Question 27

What are the 2 general types of scheduled reinforcement in operant conditioning?

Answer 27

1. Continuous reinforcement
2. Partial reinforcement

Question 28

What does continuous reinforcement mean?

Answer 28

The behaviour is reinforced every time it occurs.

E.g., rat gets a treat every time it presses a button

Question 29

What does partial reinforcement mean?

Answer 29

Only some responses are reinforced.

E.g., rat gets a treat every third time it presses a button

Question 30

What are the two broad types of scheduling?

Answer 30

1. Ratio schedules
2. Interval schedules

Question 31

What are the 2 types of ratio scheduling?

Answer 31

1. Fixed ratio scheduling
2. Variable ratio scheduling

Question 32

Describe fixed ratio scheduling.

Answer 32

Reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses that is always the same (i.e., every nth response).

Question 33

Describe variable ratio scheduling.

Answer 33

Reinforcement occurs after a variable number of responses (but centres around an average).

Question 34

What are the 2 types of interval scheduling?

Answer 34

1. Fixed interval scheduling
2. Variable interval scheduling

Question 35

Describe fixed interval scheduling.

Answer 35

Reinforcement occurs for the first response made after a fixed time period (that is always the same).

Question 36

Describe variable interval scheduling.

Answer 36

Reinforcement occurs after the first response made after a variable time period has passed (the exact amount of time differs but centres around an average).

Question 37

What are 3 applications for operant conditioning?

Answer 37

1. Animal training
2. Behaviour management and parenting programs
3. Prevalent in clinical disorders such as OCD and treatment of clinical disorders

Question 38

What type of conditioning is occurring if a response is influenced before the behaviour occurs?

Answer 38

Classical conditioning

Question 39

What type of conditioning is occurring if a response is influenced after the behaviour occurs?

Answer 39

Operant conditioning

Question 40

What type of conditioning is occurring if the outcome is determined by the behaviour?

Answer 40

Operant conditioning

Question 41

What type of conditioning is occurring if the outcome is not determined by the behaviour?

Answer 41

Classical conditioning