Operant conditioning (Reinforcement and behaviour modifications) Flashcards
Define reinforcement schedules
plan of how often and when reinforcement will be provided
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is continuous reinforcement? + example
when the reinforcer always follows a behaviour
example: paying a child every time he washes up.
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is partial reinfrocement
Irregular reinforcement, can come in 2 forms
Schedules of reinforcement:
What are the 2 types of partial reinforcement
Fixed and variable ratio reinforcement schedule
or
Fixed and variable interval reinforcement schedule
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is the difference between the ratio and interval reinforcement schedules
Ratio reinforcement deals with how many times a behaviour must happen before reinforcement.
Interval reinforcement deals with how much time will pass before the reinforcement
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is fixed ratio reinforcement schedule
Reinforcer is given after behaviour appeared a specific number of times
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is variable ratio reinforcement schedule
A reinforcer is given after an unpredictable number of behaviours that varies around a mean value.
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is a fixed interval reinforcement schedule
Time between reinforcers is kept constant
Schedules of reinforcement:
What is variable interval reinforcement
time between reinforcers is varied around a mean length of time.
Behaviour modification:
define behaviour modifications
The use of operant conditioning to change the frequency of desired behaviour.
Behaviour modification:
Example of when behaviour modification happened in sport psychology
Ford et al measured head-impact in helmet sensors of american football players and used mentoring to provide reinforcement to the high risk players.
Behaviour modification:
Results of Ford et al
mean impact intensity dropped by 3.9% and by 4.7% overall on the top of the head.
Modified behaviour improved safety.
Behaviour modification:
Define shaping
When behaviour is only reinforced when theres approximations of the desired behaviour
Behaviour modification:
Why is shaping used
To encourage complex behaviours, like learning a language.
Strength of reinforcement schedules
They are supported by many studies conducted on humans and animals
Strength of reinforcement schedules:
Research evidence that supports schedules
Latham and Dosset (1973) found that beaver trappers responded better to variable ratio schedule than fixed ratio schedule
Strength of reinforcement scehdules:
In Latham and Dosset (1973), what was the variable ratio schedule and the fixed ratio schedule
Variable ratio schedule - capturing an animal and guessing the colour of the marbel correctly for $4
Fixed ratio schedule - capturing an animal for $1
Strength of reinforcement scehdules:
What does this evidence show
theres properties in partial reinforcement in human learning.
Weakness of reinforcement schedules
Understanding properties of reinforcement deos not provide a complete account for human motivation
Weakness of reinforcement schedules:
Evidence of how its not a complete explanation of human motivation
It explains how humans are motivated extrinsicly (someone else offering a reward), however it doesn’t account for intrinsic motivation (interest or enjoyment)
Strength of the application of behaviour modifications
Behaviour modification lends itself well to forms of treatment, like therapy.
Strength of the application of behaviour modifications:
Evidence of its application in therapy
They have been used to treat mental health problems ranging from schizophrenia to autism spectrum disorder.
Strength of the application of behaviour modifications: Example of a therapy that uses behaviour modifications
Loovas’ therapy uses intense shaping to normalise some aspects of behaviour in children with autism
