Operant conditioning (Reinforcement and behaviour modifications)

Question 1

Define reinforcement schedules

Answer 1

plan of how often and when reinforcement will be provided

Question 2

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is continuous reinforcement? + example

Answer 2

when the reinforcer always follows a behaviour

example: paying a child every time he washes up.

Question 3

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is partial reinfrocement

Answer 3

Irregular reinforcement, can come in 2 forms

Question 4

Schedules of reinforcement:

What are the 2 types of partial reinforcement

Answer 4

Fixed and variable ratio reinforcement schedule

or

Fixed and variable interval reinforcement schedule

Question 5

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is the difference between the ratio and interval reinforcement schedules

Answer 5

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

Question 6

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is fixed ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 6

Reinforcer is given after behaviour appeared a specific number of times

Question 7

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is variable ratio reinforcement schedule

Answer 7

A reinforcer is given after an unpredictable number of behaviours that varies around a mean value.

Question 8

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is a fixed interval reinforcement schedule

Answer 8

Time between reinforcers is kept constant

Question 9

Schedules of reinforcement:

What is variable interval reinforcement

Answer 9

time between reinforcers is varied around a mean length of time.

Question 10

Behaviour modification:

define behaviour modifications

Answer 10

The use of operant conditioning to change the frequency of desired behaviour.

Question 11

Behaviour modification:

Example of when behaviour modification happened in sport psychology

Answer 11

Ford et al measured head-impact in helmet sensors of american football players and used mentoring to provide reinforcement to the high risk players.

Question 12

Behaviour modification:

Results of Ford et al

Answer 12

mean impact intensity dropped by 3.9% and by 4.7% overall on the top of the head.

Modified behaviour improved safety.

Question 13

Behaviour modification:

Define shaping

Answer 13

When behaviour is only reinforced when theres approximations of the desired behaviour

Question 14

Behaviour modification:

Why is shaping used

Answer 14

To encourage complex behaviours, like learning a language.

Question 15

Strength of reinforcement schedules

Answer 15

They are supported by many studies conducted on humans and animals

Question 16

Strength of reinforcement schedules:

Research evidence that supports schedules

Answer 16

Latham and Dosset (1973) found that beaver trappers responded better to variable ratio schedule than fixed ratio schedule

Question 17

Strength of reinforcement scehdules:

In Latham and Dosset (1973), what was the variable ratio schedule and the fixed ratio schedule

Answer 17

Variable ratio schedule - capturing an animal and guessing the colour of the marbel correctly for $4

Fixed ratio schedule - capturing an animal for $1

Question 18

Strength of reinforcement scehdules:

What does this evidence show

Answer 18

theres properties in partial reinforcement in human learning.

Question 19

Weakness of reinforcement schedules

Answer 19

Understanding properties of reinforcement deos not provide a complete account for human motivation

Question 20

Weakness of reinforcement schedules:

Evidence of how its not a complete explanation of human motivation

Answer 20

It explains how humans are motivated extrinsicly (someone else offering a reward), however it doesn’t account for intrinsic motivation (interest or enjoyment)

Question 21

Strength of the application of behaviour modifications

Answer 21

Behaviour modification lends itself well to forms of treatment, like therapy.

Question 22

Strength of the application of behaviour modifications:

Evidence of its application in therapy

Answer 22

They have been used to treat mental health problems ranging from schizophrenia to autism spectrum disorder.

Question 23

Strength of the application of behaviour modifications: Example of a therapy that uses behaviour modifications

Answer 23

Loovas’ therapy uses intense shaping to normalise some aspects of behaviour in children with autism