Week 6: Other Factors that Influence Operant Conditioning

Question 1

What is the first factor influencing operant conditioning?

Answer 1

The Magnitude of Reinforcement: as the magnitude of reinforcement increases, acquisition of a response is faster, the rate of responding is higher and the resistance to extinction is greater.

Example: cash incentives on the ability of people with substance use disorders to abstain - the greater the amount of the incentive, the more likely the individuals are to abstain over extended periods of time.

Question 2

What is the second factor influencing operant conditioning?

Answer 2

Immediacy of Reinforcement: responses are conditioned more effectively when reinforcement is immediate. The longer the delay in reinforcement, the more slowly the response will be acquired.

Example: one reason people with excess weight may have difficulty changing their eating habits is because of the long delay between their behaviour change and the rewarding consequences of weight loss and better health.

Question 3

What is the third factor influencing operant conditioning?

Answer 3

The Level of Motivation of the Learner: if you are highly motivated to learn to play tennis, you will learn faster and practise more than if you have no interest in the game.

Example: Skinner found that when food is the reinforcer, a hungry animal will learn faster than a full animal.