Module 27

Module 27

1. Operant Conditioning: a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if follewed by a punisher

2. Law of effect: Thorndike's principle that behaviors follwoed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences less likely

3. Operant Chamber: in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal’s rate of bar pressing or key pecking.

4. Reinforcement: in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows.

5. Shaping: an operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior toward closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior.

6. Discriminative Stimulus: in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement).

   • variable- interval schedule in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals.

7. Positive reinforecement: increasing behaviors by presenting positive reinforcers. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.

   • Negative Reinforcement: increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: Negative reinforcement is not punishment.)

8. Primary Reinforcer: an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need.

9. Conditioned reinforcer: a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer.

10. Reinforcement schedule:a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced.

11. Continuous Reinforcement: reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs.

12. Partial/Intermittent reinforcement: reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement.

13. fixed- ratio schedule in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses.

14. variable- ratio schedule in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses.

15. fixed- interval schedule in operant conditioning, a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed.

16. punishment an event that tends to decrease the behavior that it follows.