Operant Conditioning SAC

Question 1

What are the forms of allocation?

Answer 1

• Random allocation

- Convenience (non-random) allocation

Question 2

List the experimental designs (briefly explain).

Answer 2

• Repeated Measures
• Matched Participants
• Independent Groups

Question 3

List and explain the schedules of partial reinforcement.

Answer 3

• Fixed Ratio: Fixed number of correct responses (Eg.$5 for every 100 newspapers sold).
• Variable Ratio: Variable number of correct responses (Eg. Poker Machine).
• Fixed Interval: Fixed time period (Eg.Teacher gets paid every fortnight).
• Variable Interval: Variable time period (Eg.Catching a fish).

Question 4

Which schedules of partial reinforcement are most resistant to extinction?

Answer 4

• Variable Ratio Schedule

- Variable Interval Schedule

Question 5

Explain ‘stimulus discrimination’ in terms of Operant Conditioning.

Answer 5

When an organism makes a response to a stimulus for which reinforcement is obtained but not for any other stimulus. In this experiment,…

Question 6

Identify and explain a potential Extraneous Variable.

Answer 6

Interference/Distraction - Participants may become distracted by the conversations or activities which other groups are having/completing, therefore interfering with the participants’ completion of the task at hand and leading to unreliable data.