Week2/3

Ratio Schedule

• is response based. Reinforcement is delivered following a set number of responses 

Interval

• is time based. Reinforcement is delivered to the first response after a certain amount of time has passed 

Fixed Schedule

• Reinforcer delivered after same ratio or interval every time

Variable Schedule

•  Reinforcer delivered after a variable ratio or interval 

Fixed Ratio

• Pauses typically occur after reinforcement then responses become steady afterwards 

  • Pauses are longer based on how many responses were required to create reinforcement 

Variable Ratio

Produce steady rate of responding with no pauses occurring after reinforcement

Fixed Interval

• Scalloped responses meaning after the reinforcement a slow down of responses occurs before a large increase of responses 

Variable Interval

• Produce steady rates of responding no pauses 

Continuous Reinforcement

• Every instance of the operant is reinforced 

Partial Reinforcement

 Reinforcement occurs intermittently.

Thorndike’s (positive) law of effect:

This states that if a response to a stimulus has more positive consequences than an other, or less negative consequences, the organism might find satisfaction in the action that produces that consequence and therefore choose to respond that way more often when

Contingency Criterion:

Performance reflects the causal relationship between the action and the outcome