Reinforcement Schedules and Behavioral Principles

Continuous reinforcement

Reinforcement provided after every behavior occurrence.

Intermittent reinforcement

Reinforcement provided only some of the time.

Resistance to extinction

Behavior persists longer without reinforcement.

Fixed schedule

Reinforcement based on a constant criterion.

Variable schedule

Reinforcement based on changing criteria.

Ratio schedule

Reinforcement based on number of responses.

Interval schedule

Reinforcement based on elapsed time since last reward.

Fixed-ratio schedule

Reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Variable-ratio schedule

Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses.

Fixed-interval schedule

Reinforcement after a constant time period.

Variable-interval schedule

Reinforcement after varying time periods.

Scallop pattern

Response pattern in fixed-interval schedules.

Post-reinforcement pauses

Brief pauses after receiving reinforcement.

Ratio strain

Behavior deteriorates due to excessive response demands.

Positive punishment

Adding an aversive stimulus to reduce behavior.

Negative punishment

Removing a stimulus to decrease behavior likelihood.

Antecedent stimuli

Signals the potential for behavior to occur.

Response effort

The amount of effort required for a behavior.

Contingency

Reinforcement occurs only if behavior is performed.

Immediacy

Timing of reinforcement affects conditioning strength.

Deprivation

Increases the power of a reinforcer temporarily.

Satiation

Decreases the power of a reinforcer temporarily.

Primary reinforcer

Innately reinforcing, requires no learning.

Secondary reinforcer

Learned through association with primary reinforcers.

Effective reinforcers

Identified through exposure and variety.

Reinforcer pairing

Associating neutral items with strong reinforcers.

Selling as reinforcement

Incorporating enjoyment into the reinforcement process.

Variable Ratio Schedule

Reinforcement given after changing correct responses.

ABAB Design

Four phases: baseline, intervention, reversal, intervention.

Multiple Baseline Design

Multiple AB designs with staggered interventions.

Social Validity

Utility and adaptiveness of behavioral changes.

Clinical Significance

Meaningfulness of behavior change in life.

Respondent Conditioning

Involuntary learning through paired stimuli.

Operant Conditioning

Voluntary behavior modified by rewards/punishments.

Positive Reinforcement

Adding stimulus increases likelihood of behavior.

Negative Reinforcement

Removing aversive stimulus increases behavior likelihood.

Positive Punishment

Adding aversive stimulus decreases behavior likelihood.

Behavioral Goal

Target behavior level aimed for in program.

Operational Definition

Clear, measurable description of behavior.

Permanent Product

Durable outcome of behavior for evaluation.

Frequency Recording

Counts occurrences of behavior over time.

Duration Recording

Measures length of time behavior lasts.

Magnitude

Intensity or degree of target behavior.

Percent of Opportunities

Behavior occurrences relative to available chances.

Time Sampling

Data collected at specific intervals.

Interval Recording

Records behavior occurrence in set intervals.

Interobserver Agreement (IOA)

Consistency of data recorded by observers.

Independent Variable

Manipulated variable in an experiment.

Dependent Variable

Outcome measured in response to manipulation.

Functional Control

Demonstrating behavior improvement through intervention.

Graph Elements

Axes, symbols, and lines to display data.

Reversal Phase

Phase where intervention is withdrawn.

Behavioral Analyst

Professional analyzing and interpreting behavior data.

Episodic Behavior

Behavior that occurs in distinct episodes.

Behavioral Change

Modification in behavior due to intervention.

Observation Period

Designated time for collecting behavioral data.