Intermittent Reinforcement and Schedules of Reinforcement

These flashcards cover key concepts related to intermittent reinforcement and various schedules of reinforcement as discussed in the lecture.

What device is used to record behavior in a cumulative record?

A cumulative recorder is used to make marks on steadily moving paper for each response.

What happens to the cumulative record when the animal is not responding?

You get a horizontal line on the graph; the graph never goes down.

What is Continuous Reinforcement (CRF)?

A schedule where every response is followed by the delivery of a reinforcer.

What is Intermittent Reinforcement?

A process where a reinforcer is delivered after some, but not all, of the responses.

How does the slope of a cumulative record change with faster responses?

The steeper the slope, the faster the animal is responding.

What are Ratio Schedules?

Schedules of reinforcement based on the number of emitted responses.

What are Interval Schedules?

Schedules of reinforcement based on the time since the last consequence occurred.

What effect do higher ratio schedules have on responding?

Higher ratio schedules can lead to a high, steady rate of responding followed by a post-reinforcement pause.

What is the 'scalloped' pattern seen in Fixed Interval (FI) schedules?

A pattern where there is a long pause after reinforcement, followed by an increase in response rate before the next reinforcement.

What is the main characteristic of Variable Ratio (VR) schedules?

They produce a high level of responding, with fewer pauses compared to Fixed Ratio schedules.

How does Variable Interval (VI) schedule influence responding rates?

Longer average intervals in VI schedules produce lower response rates.

What are the general effects of reinforcement schedules across species?

The effects of reinforcement extend over species, reinforcement stimuli, and behavior.

What was the main finding of the study by Stephens, Pear, Wray, and Jackson (1975) involving a child named Sidney?

Sidney learned faster as the ratio of responses required for reinforcement increased up to a certain point.

What conditions are necessary for reinforcement to be effective?

The source must be well-trained, have control over reinforcers, control the receiver's actions, have a consistent plan, and deliver reinforcers under the same conditions.