Unit 04: Instrumental Conditioning

Question 1

what is Instrumental/goal-directed behavior?

Answer 1

behaviour that occurs because it was previously effective in producing the desired outcome

Question 2

what is the law of effect and who came up with the term?

Answer 2

1) E. I. Thorndike

2) the associative value between an S and R becomes stronger when the R lead to a satisfying outcome

Question 3

What type of learning does Thorndike’s law of effect incorporate? why?

Answer 3

S-R learning as the satisfying/annoying event that follows a response is solely used to reinforce or suppress a learned association between the stimulus and a response

Question 4

what is the discrete-trial procedure?

Answer 4

when a subject is presented with a stimulus which results in an instrumental response that occurs during the exposure of that stimuli

Question 5

in the W. S. Small rat maze experiment what are the two ways to measure the instrumental behaviour of the rats?

Answer 5

1) running speed: how fast they run through the maze

2) latency: how long it takes for the rat to initiate the instrumental response

Question 6

How are discrete-trial procedures usually carried out? Who initiated this method?

Answer 6

1) through rating using mazes

2) S. W. Small

Question 7

What are the 2 types of mazes rwt discrete-trial procedures explain the experiments used for both

Answer 7

1) Straight-alley maze: observing how much time it takes a rat to reach the end and how long it takes them to respond when the barrier is removed
2) T-maze: observing whether a baby rat can learn to find their mother as opposed to another virgin female rat

Question 8

Which experiment did Panagiotaropoulos do?

Answer 8

the T-maze experiment: observing whether a baby rat can learn to find their mother as opposed to another virgin female rat

Question 9

Describe the 2 ways to measure the instrumental behaviours of discrete-trial procedure mazes

Answer 9

1) running speed: how fast an animal runs towards the exit of a maze
2) latency: how long it takes for the animal to initiate their instrumental behavior

Question 10

what is the free-operant procedure?

Answer 10

an instrumental behavioural procedure that allows the participant to respond to a stimulus continuously without constraint

Question 11

How do discrete-trial and free-operant procedures relate? how do they differ

Answer 11

1) they both are procedures that allow the researcher to observe instrumental behaviour
2) the discrete trial limits the amount of time that a subject can respond to a stimulus until removed from the trial. While free-operant procedures allow the subject to respond continuously without constraint

Question 12

Who came up with the following procedures?

a) discrete-trial
b) free-operant

Answer 12

a) S. W. Small

b) B. F. Skinner

Question 13

Name 2 examples of operant behaviour and 2 examples of non-operant behaviour? Explain why?

Answer 13

operant –> no matter the way the behaviour is performed the effect that it has on the environment remains the same
1) opening a door –> can open the door with either hand
2) Basketball/baseball –> can score points in multiple ways
non-operant –> the behaviour is dependent on how the outcome
1) swimming lessons –> structure requires that the swimmer perform it using specific techniques
2) figure skating –> same as above

Question 14

Is a non-operant behaviour still considered instrumental? Why?

Answer 14

yes - as long as the behaviour performed is needed to produce the desired outcome

Question 15

what is magazine training and how does it aid operant/instrumental responses?

Answer 15

It uses classical conditioning to teach the subject about the reinforcer and when it will be available so they know when to perform their operant/instrumental responses later (as now they have the incentive to do so)

Question 16

what is response shaping and how does it aid operant/instrumental responses?

Answer 16

it is meant to teach the subject about the specific response necessary for the desired outcome to occur. This is done through the reinforcement of behavior that leads up to the desired response.

Question 17

what are the 3 components of behavior shaping? Which one of these components relates to the training plan?

Answer 17

1) indicate what the target behavior is
2) establish a starting point for the behaviour
3) divide the starting point and the final target behaviour into successive behaviours (training plan)

Question 18

what complementary tactics are used to execute the training plan of shaping a behavior?

Answer 18

1) reinforce any behaviour that relates to the targeted behaviour
2) arrest any reinforcement towards behaviours that have less of a relationship with the targeted behaviour

Question 19

T or F - the act of shaping a new behaviour can only occur if a familiar behaviour is combined with a new activity

Answer 19

F - new responses can be learned by expanding on similar related behaviors that progresses through shifting the distribution of approximation behavior towards the targeted behavior

Question 20

How is response probability measured in free-operant procedures? Why is it not measured using latency or speed of a response?

Answer 20

1) response probability = frequency of the response per minute
2) latency and speed do not account for repetitive responses they can only be used for one response at a time

Question 21

What is the difference b/w an appetitive and an aversive stimulus?

Answer 21

1) appetitive stimulus: a pleasant event used to reinforce a certain instrumental behavior
2) aversive stimulus: an unpleasant event used to punish a certain instrumental behavior