Shedules of Reinforcement Flashcards
Schedules of reinforcement
The rule describing the delivery of reinforcers for a behaviour
Schedule effects
Distinctive rate and patterns of behaviour associated with a particular reinforcement schedule
Continuous reinforcement
Reinforcement every time
Fixed ratio of reinforcement (FR)
For every fixed number of times, a behaviour occurs a reinforcer is given.
Intermittent schedule
When reinforcement happens on some occasions but not others
FR 3 schedule
Reinforcement every 3 times a behaviour occurs
Post-reinforcement pauses
Pre-ratio pauses
Between-ratio pauses
A pause in responding following reinforcement; associated primarily with FR schedules
Run rate
The rate at which behaviour occurs
Variable ratio or VR schedule
The average of reinforcement given might be 5 (VR 5) which means it might be given after 3 behaviours, then after 2, then after 7.
Slot machines operate on VR schedules
Fixed interval schedules (FI)
Reinforcement is dependent on the behaviour occurring after a given period since the last reinforcer was given
Variable interval schedules
Reinforcement is given on average. Might be after 2 seconds, after 8 seconds or after 4 seconds since last reinforcer was given.
Extinction
To reduce a behaviour by no longer giving reinforcement
Extinction burst
When the reinforcer stops and the subject starts doing the behaviour more often to try and get the reinforcer back.
Resurgence
When a reinforcement stops for behaviour X the subject might take up behaviour G, which is has previously been given reinforcements for.
Fixed duration schedule
The behaviour needs to be present for a fixed duration of time before reinforcement is given.
If you sit still for 30 minutes you get an ice cream
Variable duration schedule
The average of time before a reinforcement is given.
Noncontingent reinforcement schedules
Reinforcers are given on either a fixed time or variable time schedule regardless of behaviour.
Progressive schedules
The requirements progressively increase systematically
Progressive ratio schedule
Reinforcement is given after one push, then after 2 pushes, then after 6, then 8 and so forth.
Breaking point
When the progressive ratio schedule requires too big of a gap between reinforcers that behaviour stops.
Stretching the ratio
In progressive ratio scheduling, the researcher slowly increases the number of behaviours needed before a reinforcer is given.
Multiple schedules
There are multiple schedules used and there is some kind of indicator of what schedule is occurring at all times.
Mixed schedule
There are multiple schedules used but there is no indicator of what schedule is occurring.
Chain schedule
A compound reinforcement schedule that consists of a series of simple schedules, each of which is associated with a particular stimulus, with reinforcement delivered only on completion of the last schedule in the series.
Compound schedules
Complex schedules of reinforcement
Cooperative schedules
When reinforcement is dependent on two or more individuals
Concurrent schedules
When two or more schedules are available at the same time. Example: both FR 5 and FI 10
Partial reinforcement effect
The tendency of a behaviour to be more resistant to extinction following intermittent reinforcement than following continuous reinforcement
Discrimination hypothesis
The idea that the partial reinforcement effect occurs because it is harder to discriminate between intermittent reinforcement and extinction than between continuous reinforcement and extinction
Frustration hypothesis
The idea that the partial reinforcement effect occurs because nonreinforcement is frustrating and during intermittent reinforcement responding while frustrated is reinforced, so frustration becomes a signal for responding
Sequential hypothesis
The idea that the partial reinforcement effect occurs because the sequence of reinforced and nonreinforced behaviours during intermittent reinforcement becomes a signal for responding during extinction
Response unit hypothesis
The idea that the partial reinforcement effect is due to differences in the definition of a behaviour during intermittent and continuous reinforcement
Matching law
The principle that, given the opportunity to respond on two or more reinforcement schedules, the rate of responding on each schedule will match the reinforcement available on each schedule.
