Module 4 Lesson 2 - Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Operant Conditioning

Answer 1

Training to achieve the desired behavior that is not present.

Question 2

Respondent Behavior

Answer 2

Involuntary response to stimuli.

Question 3

Operant Behavior

Answer 3

Behavior that produces the desired response.

Question 4

Law of Effect

Answer 4

Thorndike believed that behavior would be repeated (even if it was an accident) if there was a reward.

Question 5

Operant Chamber / Skinner Box

Answer 5

A device designed by B.F. Skinner to contain an animal for observation of its behavior in a lab. It is an enclosed box where the animal must complete tasks for food and water, like pressing a lever.

Question 6

Shaping

Answer 6

A psychological behavior training that uses a similar behavior of the animal or person to reach the desired behavior.

Question 7

Reinforcer

Answer 7

Used to strengthen or increase the desired behavior.

Question 8

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 8

This is a positive stimulus (like rewards) to increase the frequency of the desired behavior.

Question 9

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 9

This is the strengthening of a desired outcome by removing an adverse stimulus.

Question 10

Positive Punishment

Answer 10

Applying a consequence after an undesirable behavior in the form of additional stimulus to stop the undesired behavior.

Question 11

Negative Punishment

Answer 11

Applying a consequence after an undesirable behavior in the form of removal of the stimulus.

Question 12

Fixed-ratio schedule of Reinforcement

Answer 12

Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response after a specific amount of responses.

Ex. A teacher asks you a question, you answer it and are told “great job” each time (or every number of times).

Question 13

Variable-ratio schedule of Reinforcement

Answer 13

Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response a changing (unset) amount of response.

Ex. A teacher asks you a question, you answer it and are told “great job” randomly (not each time).

Question 14

Continuous Reinforcement

Answer 14

Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response each time. Similar to the fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement except that there is a positive reinforcement each time.

Question 15

Partial Reinforcement

Answer 15

Used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce response at intervals.

Question 16

Primary Reinforcer

Answer 16

Biological reinforcers that bring pleasure, like foods and drinks.

Question 17

Secondary Reinforcer

Answer 17

A reinforcer that is not necessary and can be helpful or not.

Ex. If the primary reinforcer is food and drinks, the secondary reinforcer would be buying them.

Question 18

Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 18

Also sometimes called a secondary reinforcer - Reinforcers uses mainly in humans, like grades or money.

Question 19

Token Economy

Answer 19

Using an item (like tokens) to increase the desired behavior or decrease the undesired behavior in learning.

Question 20

Operant Conditioning

Answer 20

The training that is needed to achieve the desired behavior. This is different from classical conditioning because in classical conditioning, you are working with already present behaviors.

Question 21

Classical Conditioning vs. Operant Conditioning (ex.)

Answer 21

In Pavlov’s dog experiment, the dog already salivated when presented with food, whereas operant conditioning would be like training the dog to ring the bell for his food (since it wasn’t an already present behavior).

Question 22

Respondent Behavior

Answer 22

An involuntary response to stimuli - like sneezing when you inhale pepper or hairspray.

Question 23

Operant Behavior

Answer 23

When behavior produces a consequence - like when a dog knows that he can get a treat when he goes into his crate at bedtime (although he may sometimes try to go just to get the treat).

Question 24

Law of Effect

Answer 24

The reward received as a consequence. Thorndike theorized this by putting a cat in a box. The cat accidentally pressed the lever and got a treat, to which it learned and continued to repeat the same behavior on purpose.

Question 25

Operant conditioning is when…. (give an example)

Answer 25

Operant conditioning is when a NEW behavior is desired to be demonstrated.

Ex. You usually leave your dishes on the table after eating, but your parents train you to rinse the plates and put them in the dishwasher.

Question 26

If a parent wanted to force a new behavior, what is a punishment and what is a reinforcer?

Answer 26

A punishment could be that you stop getting served dessert every time you leave dirty dishes, which would be a negative punishment since the stimulus (dessert) is being withheld.

A positive reinforcer could be allowing you a second piece of dessert when you do put the dishes in the dishwasher.

Question 27

What is the Operant Chamber?

Answer 27

Also known as the “Skinner Box” - This is a device designed by B.F. Skinner to contain an animal for the observation of its behaviors in a lab. It is an enclosed box where the animal must complete tasks to get rewards (like getting food), which could be pressing a lever.

Question 28

What is shaping?

Answer 28

A psychological behavior training that uses a similar behavior of the animal or person to reach the desired behavior.

Question 29

What does a reinforcer do?

Answer 29

It is used to strength or increase the desired behavior.

Question 30

Positive vs. Negative Reinforcement

Answer 30

Positive Reinforcement: A reward is used to increase the frequency of the desired behavior.

Negative Reinforcement: The strengthening of the desired outcome by removing an adverse stimulus.

Question 31

Positive vs. Negative Punishment

Answer 31

Positive Punishment - The consequence following an undesirable behavior in the form of additional stimulus to stop an undesired behavior.

Negative Punishment - The consequence following an undesirable behavior in the form of a removal of a stimulus.

Question 32

How is a Fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement used?

Answer 32

It is used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response after a specific amount of responses.

Question 33

How is continuous reinforcement used?

Answer 33

It is used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response in a changing (unset) amount of responses; randomly.

Question 34

How is continuous reinforcement used?

Answer 34

It is used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response each time.

Question 35

How is partial reinforcement used?

Answer 35

It is used solely in operant conditioning to reinforce a response at intervals.

Question 36

What are primary reinforcers?

Answer 36

They are biological reinforcers that bring pleasure - like food and drinks!

Question 37

What are secondary reinforcers?

Answer 37

Reinforcers that are not necessary and can be helpful or not.

Ex. If the primary reinforcer is food and drink, the secondary reinforcers would be buying them! This is also known as conditioned reinforcers, and can be grades or money.

Question 38

How does Token economy work?

Answer 38

It is when items (like tokens) are used to increase desired behavior or decrease undesired behavior in learning.