Chapter 7 - Schedules of Reinforcement

What is the difference between continuous and intermittent reinforcement?

Continuous reinforcement (CRF) is when each behavior is reinforced while intermittent reinforcement is occasional reinforcement of behavior according to a specific rule

Define/describe fixed ratio reinforcement

Reinforcement occurs each time a set number of responses are emitted (FR 5 = every 5th response is reinforced)

Define/describe variable ratio reinforcement

Reinforcement occurs after an AVERAGE number of responses; cannot predict which instance of behavior will be reinforced

Define/describe fixed interval reinforcement

The first response after a fixed period of time is reinforced; reinforcement depends on both the given amount of time having elapsed and a response

Define/describe variable interval reinforcement

The first response after a variable amount of time is reinforced

What is a PRP, and what schedule(s) produce it?

PRP is post-reinforcement pause; FR and FI

What is ratio strain? Which schedule is most likely to produce it?

Deterioration in responding when an FR schedule is increased too rapidly, or just too high in general

Describe the limited hold procedure

The reinforcer is made available for a limited period of time and after that the behavior is not reinforced (30 second elapse and a 5 second limited hold)

Define the partial reinforcement effect

Behaviors reinforced on an intermittent schedule resist extinction more than behaviors reinforced on a CRF schedule

Explain the discrimination hypothesis

Extinction takes longer after intermittent reinforcement because it is more difficult to discriminate that the schedule has changed

Describe the frustration hypothesis

Nonreinforcement of previously reinforced behavior results in frustration, an aversive emotion, so animals avoid frustration by not responding

Describe the sequential hypothesis

In CRF, the reinforcer reinforces the previous response and tells the organism to respond again, while in intermittent reinforcement the behavior tells the organism to do the behavior again

Describe the response unit hypothesis

This defines all the behaviors before the reinforcer as one unit, so since there are less units to respond to in intermittent reinforcement than CRF extinction is harder

How is the response unit hypothesis different from the frustration and sequential hypotheses?

It defines behavior on intermittent reinforcement differently than the other two

Why does the response unit hypothesis suggest that the PREE is an illusion?

By looking at the amount of behavior with the new definition, there are less units to respond while looking at behavior from the old definition shows that there are more units than CRF.

Define/describe multiple schedule

Two or more simple schedules that alternate in some way with each schedule signaled by a particular stimulus (only one in effect at one time)

Define/describe concurrent schedule

Two or more simple schedules that are available at the same time involving a choice

Compare and contrast the concurrent schedule to the multiple schedule

Compare: they both involve two or more simple schedules

Contrast: concurrent involves choice while multiple does not

Define the matching law

The distribution of behavior matches the availability of reinforcement

How does the matching law explain/predict choice in concurrent schedules?

The relative rate of responding matches the relative rate of reinforcement received for each behavior option. (VI 1 vs VI 3: the VI 1 is reinforced 3x as often so they will peck it 3x as much)