Operant/Instrumental Conditioning (Skinner)

Question 0

Operant conditioning

Answer 0

Refers to kind of learning in which the consequences that follow some behavior increase or decrease the likelihood of that behaviors occurrence in the future.

Question 1

Operant

Answer 1

An instrumental response ( a rat pressing a lever).

Question 2

Reinforcer

Answer 2

Something that increases the likelihood of the behavior.

Question 3

Positive reinforcement

Answer 3

If desired behavior occurs, add something pleasant.

Question 4

Negative reinforcement

Answer 4

If desired behavior occurs, take away something unpleasant.

Question 5

Punisher

Answer 5

Something that decreases the likelihood of the behavior.

Question 6

Learned helplessness

Answer 6

Occurs when a subject believes that unpleasant or painful stimuli are inevitable and gives up trying to change the circumstances.

Question 7

Shaping

Answer 7

Reinforcing successive steps to reach a desired behavior.

Question 8

Chaining

Answer 8

Reinforcing a series of behaviors to get a reward.

Question 9

Extinction

Answer 9

Occurs if behavioral response is no longer reinforced.

Question 10

Schedule of reinforcement

Answer 10

Pattern of reinforcing behavioral responses. There are two main types.

Question 11

Continuous reinforcement

Answer 11

Reinforcement after every correct response.

Question 12

Partial reinforcement

Answer 12

Reinforcement after some correct responses. Four main types.

Question 13

Fixed

Answer 13

In conditioning, a schedule in which a reinforcer occurs only after a fixed number of responses from the subject.

Question 14

Variable

Answer 14

Reinforcement is given an average amount of time after correct response (Low rates of response).

Question 15

Fixed ratio schedules

Answer 15

Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of correct responses (high rate of responses).

A fixed ratio schedule is often used to pay assembly line workers because it results in fast rates of work: the more pieces of work completed, the more a worker is paid (reinforcement).

Question 16

Variable ratio schedules

Answer 16

Reinforcement is given after an average number of correct responses (very high rates of responses (very high rate of response).

The variable ratio schedule produces a high rate of responding because of subject (pigeon or slot machine player) doesn’t know which response will finally produce a payoff.

Question 17

Fixed interval schedule

Answer 17

Means that a reinforcer occurs following the first response that occurs after a fixed interval of time.

A fixed interval schedule results in slow responding at first, but as the time for the reinforcer draws near, the response rate greatly accelerates.

Question 18

Variable interval schedule

Answer 18

Means that a reinforcer occurs following the first correct response after an average amount of time has passed.

A variable interval schedule results in a more regular rate of responding than does a fixed interval schedule.