Reinforcement

Question 1

How do you use Contingencies of Reinforcement?

Answer 1

Effectively using principles of reinforcement to increase target skills with appropriate frequency and magnitude throughout skill acquisition programming (both structured and unstructured)

Question 2

Define Reinforcement

Answer 2

The process of providing a reinforcer (preferred stimulus) contingent on the client engaging in a behavior that you want to increase.

i.e.
Praising a client and giving them their favorite motorcycle toy after they spontaneously put their book back on the shelf after reading it

Question 3

Define Reinforcer

Answer 3

A Stimulus (item, activity, statement, etc.) that, when provided immediately after a response, results in an increase in the future frequency of that response

i.e.
Different for all people!
IPad time, pop, stickers, music, praise, trip to the park, toy train, thumbs up, conversation, playing chase, etc.

Question 4

Define Unconditioned Reinforcer

Answer 4

A Stimulus that requires no learning history to have reinforcing value.

i.e.
Water, food, sleep

Question 5

Define Conditioned Reinforcer

Answer 5

A Stimulus that requires learning history of pairing with other reinforcing stimuli to have reinforcing value.

i.e.
Praise, toys, tokens, conversations

Question 6

Define Intermittent Reinforcement

Answer 6

Only some instances of a target behavior result in a reinforcer. Use of Intermittent Reinforcement results in greater resistance to extinction.

Question 7

Define Fixed Ratio (FR) Reinforcement

Answer 7

A Reinforcer follows a fixed number of responses.

i.e.
A fruit snack provided after every third math problem (FR3)
A token provided after every complete task (FR1)

Question 8

Define Variable Ratio (VR) Reinforcement

Answer 8

A reinforcer follows a variable number of responses.

i.e.
Fruit snack after 2 math problems, then 4, then after 3 problems, then after 4, then after 5, then after 1 (VR3 - the average number of required responses is 3)

Question 9

Define Fixed Interval (FI) Reinforcement

Answer 9

A Reinforcer is contingent on the first response after a fixed amount of time since the last opportunity for reinforcement.

i.e.
FI 2min - Johnny earns Reinforcer for task completion. After earning the reinforcer, he will get another one following the first completed task after 2 minutes have elapsed

Question 10

Define Variable Interval (VI) Reinforcement

Answer 10

A reinforcer is contingent on the first response after a variable amount of time since the last opportunity for reinforcement.

i.e.
VI 2min. - after earning, the 1st task completed after 1 min. earns, then the first task completed after 3 min earns, then the 1st task completed after 2 min earns