Schedules of reinforcement Flashcards
Schedule
o Rule that describes a contingency of reinforcement
Feedback functions
- E-rule (FBF) describes the behaviour of the environment
- O-rule = organisms behaviour
- environment on Y-axis
- Behaviour on y-axis
- Slope shows direction of relationship, flat line = no effect
- E-rule = operation
- O-rule = organism
Cumulative record
- Displays the pattern of responding to reinforces
- plateau = no response
- Cumulative = lots of responses
- Time on x-axis and response rate on y-axis
Intermittent schedules
- Some but not all behaviors are reinforced (maintenance) Simple schedules that combine into complex schedules
- Fixed ratio
- Fixed variable
- Interval ratio
- Interval variable
Schedule thinning
-Gradually reduces reinforcement rate without putting it on extinction so it becomes naturally reoccurring
Fixed-ratio schedule
- A fixed number of responses must occur before a reinforcer is delivered
- After each reeinforcer there is a post reinforement pause and before the next there is a run of responses (break and run)
- High response rate = ratio strain
- Produces high response rate (coffee cards)
Variable ratio schedule
- a variable number of responses based around an average number must occur before a reinforcer is given
- long ratio = more pauses and dense schedules = more reinforces
- no break and run pattern as unpredictable
Fixed interval schedule
- The fixed amount of time that a behaviour must occur for before a reinforcer is given
- Increases on task behaviours
- Scalloped cumulative record
- slow to moderate rate of response
- long interval = longer pause and lower response rate
- Bus schedules
Variable interval schedule
- Behavior must occur for a variable amount of time before a reinforcer is given e.g. checking for mail
- feedback function doesn’t change
- moderately high response rate
- few pauses as unpredictable
Response independent schedule
-Reinforcer is delivered regardless of behavior e.g. fixed time schedules
continuous schedule
- A reinforcer is provided for every occurrence of the behavior (acquisition)
- May begin a behavioral program with a CRF to change behavior
Complex schedules
- Two or more schedules applied in succession
- Measure choice by looking at distribution of response to alternatives
Multiple schedule
-Two or more simple schedules occur in an alternating sequence
continuous vs intermittent
-if you never know when a behaviour will be reinforced it will last longer than something continuously reinforced as people don’t realize it is on extinction
Applying a schedule
- Measure the behaviour and the natural reinforcement schedule
- check if any current schedules work
- Define behavioural goal and make a plan to reach it
- fade the behaviour slowly so it is naturally maintained
- if the schedule has social validity people in the natural environment will continue the schedule
- FR/VR for discrete responses, VI/FI for continuous schedules
