Question

part 2: operant conditioning
matching terms →
match each definition or description with the appropriate term

1. presentation of a desired stimulus to increase behavior
2. tendency for similar stimuli to evoke a cr
3. removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behavior
4. an innately reinforcing stimulus
5. responses are reinforced after an unpredictable amount of time
6. reinforcing closer and closer approximations of a behavior
7. the reappearance of a weakened cr
8. presentation of an aversive stimulus
9. learning that becomes apparent only after reinforcement is provided
10. each and every response is reinforced

a. shaping
b. punishment
c. spontaneous recovery
d. latent learning
e. positive reinforcement
f. negative reinforcement
g. primary reinforcer
h. generalization
i. continuous reinforcement
j. variable - interval schedule
who was b.f. skinner? what did he theorize?

1. explain the difference between ratio and interval when discussing schedules of reinforcement.
2. reinforcement wants to (increase/decrease) a behavior, while punishments want to (increase/decrease) a behavior
3. explain the significance of edward thorndikes puzzle box. what did he want to examine? how did he do this? what did he discover about operant conditioning (law of effect)?
4. schedules of reinforcement: fi, vi, fr, vr
5. are those where a response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses. this schedule produces a high, steady rate of responding with only a brief pause after the delivery of the reinforcer
6. occur when a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. this sched creates a high steady rate of responding.
7. occur when a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed. this schedule produces a slow, steady rate of resp
8. where the first response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed. this schedule causes high amounts of response at the end of the interval, but slower response immediately after the delivery of the reinforcer

Explanation:

1. Positive reinforcement involves presenting a desired stimulus to increase behavior, so it matches e.
2. Generalization is the tendency for similar stimuli to evoke a conditioned - response (CR), so it matches h.
3. Negative reinforcement is the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase behavior, so it matches f.
4. A primary reinforcer is an innately reinforcing stimulus, so it matches g.
5. A variable - interval schedule reinforces responses after an unpredictable amount of time, so it matches j.
6. Shaping involves reinforcing closer and closer approximations of a behavior, so it matches a.
7. Spontaneous recovery is the reappearance of a weakened CR, so it matches c.
8. Punishment is the presentation of an aversive stimulus, so it matches b.
9. Latent learning is learning that becomes apparent only after reinforcement is provided, so it matches d.
10. Continuous reinforcement means each and every response is reinforced, so it matches i.

Answer:

1. e. positive reinforcement
2. h. generalization
3. f. negative reinforcement
4. g. primary reinforcer
5. j. variable - interval schedule
6. a. shaping
7. c. spontaneous recovery
8. b. punishment
9. d. latent learning
10. i. continuous reinforcement