Operant conditioning

• Skinner box is a chamber containing a lever which is pressed by the animal. When the animal presses the lever they receive a reward e.g. food pellet. Skinner observed that animals would continue pressing the lever if they received rewards frequently enough.
• Reinforcement is any consequence that increases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated. Reinforcers are positive because they increase the frequency of the desired behaviour.
• Punishment is any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a particular behaviour being repeated. Punishers decrease the frequency of undesired behaviours.
• Operant Conditioning is learning from consequences, where behaviour is strengthened (reinforced) or weakened (punished).
• What are the two types of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  • Positive reinforcement: Adding a pleasant stimulus
  • Negative reinforcement: Removing an unpleasant stimulus
• What are the two types of punishment in operant conditioning?

  • Positive punishment: Adding an unpleasant stimulus
  • Negative punishment: Removing a pleasant stimulus
• How would you apply positive reinforcement to encourage a child to do homework?

  Reward them with praise or treats
• What is the goal of operant conditioning?

  To modify behavior through reinforcement and punishment
• How does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

  Operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors
• What is the effect of negative reinforcement on behavior?

  It increases the likelihood of the behavior
• How can negative punishment be effectively used in parenting?

  By removing privileges for misbehavior
• How do the concepts of reinforcement and punishment interact in operant conditioning?

  Reinforcement increases behavior, punishment decreases it
• How can operant conditioning be applied in animal training?

  By using rewards to reinforce desired behaviors
• What is the outcome of a behavior that is followed by negative reinforcement?

  The behavior is likely to increase
• What is the effect of positive reinforcement on behavior?

  It encourages the repetition of the behavior
• How does the concept of reinforcement differ from punishment?

  Reinforcement increases behavior, punishment decreases it
• What is the outcome of a behavior that is followed by negative reinforcement?

  The behavior is likely to increase
• How does operant conditioning explain the learning of new behaviors?

  Through reinforcement and punishment of actions
• What is the effect of positive reinforcement on behavior?

  It encourages the repetition of the behavior
• How does the concept of reinforcement differ from punishment?

  Reinforcement increases behavior, punishment decreases it
• Fixed ratio (operant conditioning)

  a reinforce is given after a specific number of desired behaviours have been displayed. for example giving a house point every time students complete extra work
• Variable ratio (operant conditioning)

  a reinforcer is given after an unpredictable number of desired behaviours. for example giving house points after one piece of extra work and then again after three pieces and then after two pieces
• Fixed interval (operant conditioning)

  the time between reinforcer is kept constant when desired behaviour i s shown. For example giving house points for extra work completed every Friday
• variable interval (operant conditioning)

  The time between the reinforcer is varied after desired behaviour is shown. For example giving a house point for extra work completed by Monday lunchtime and then wednesday at the end of the day.