All flashcards
Flashcard 1: Identify: A paycheck received every two weeks.
Answer: Fixed-interval schedule. Payment occurs every 14 days regardless of work frequency.
Flashcard 2: Identify: A dog gets a treat for sitting on command.
Answer: Positive reinforcement. Adding a treat increases likelihood of sitting behavior.
Flashcard 3: What is the Premack Principle?
Answer: A more preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity. High-probability behaviors reinforce low-probability behaviors.
Flashcard 4: What is the difference between primary and secondary reinforcers?
Answer: Primary reinforcers satisfy biological needs; secondary reinforcers are learned. Primary are innate; secondary are learned through association.
Flashcard 5: Determine type: Removing a negative stimulus to increase behavior.
Answer: Negative reinforcement. Taking away something unpleasant strengthens the target behavior.
Flashcard 6: Determine type: Adding a positive stimulus to increase behavior.
Answer: Positive reinforcement. Adding something pleasant strengthens the target behavior.
Flashcard 7: Identify: A child receives a sticker for every completed homework.
Answer: Fixed-ratio schedule. One sticker per homework creates a 1:1 response-reinforcement ratio.
Flashcard 8: Identify: Checking phone for messages at random times.
Answer: Variable-interval schedule. Messages arrive at unpredictable times, maintaining checking behavior.
Flashcard 9: Identify: Slot machine payouts at casinos.
Answer: Variable-ratio schedule. Payouts occur after unpredictable numbers of plays.
Flashcard 10: What is negative punishment?
Answer: Removing a stimulus to decrease an undesired behavior. Take away something pleasant to weaken behavior (time-out, fines).
Flashcard 11: What is negative reinforcement?
Answer: Removing a stimulus to increase a desired behavior. Take away something unpleasant to strengthen behavior (escape/avoidance).
Flashcard 12: What is a discriminative stimulus?
Answer: A cue that signals the availability of reinforcement. Environmental signal indicating when reinforcement is available.
Flashcard 13: What is a fixed-ratio schedule?
Answer: Reinforcement is given after a set number of responses. Predictable reinforcement based on number of behaviors performed.
Flashcard 14: What is a variable-ratio schedule?
Answer: Reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses. Unpredictable reinforcement creates persistent, steady responding.
Flashcard 15: What is a fixed-interval schedule?
Answer: Reinforcement is given after a set amount of time. Predictable time-based reinforcement regardless of response frequency.
Flashcard 16: Identify the effect of a variable-ratio schedule on behavior.
Answer: Produces high and steady response rates. Unpredictable timing creates resistance to extinction.
Flashcard 17: Identify the effect of a fixed-ratio schedule on behavior.
Answer: Produces high response rates with pauses after reinforcement. Predictable ratio creates brief pauses after each reward.
Flashcard 18: Identify the effect of a fixed-interval schedule on behavior.
Answer: Produces responses that increase as the time for reinforcement approaches. Shows scalloped pattern with low rates early, high rates near deadline.
Flashcard 19: Identify the effect of a variable-interval schedule on behavior.
Answer: Produces slow and steady response rates. Unpredictable timing eliminates the scalloped response pattern.
Flashcard 20: What is shaping in operant conditioning?
Answer: Reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. Gradually reinforces behaviors closer to the final target behavior.
Flashcard 21: What is the Premack Principle?
Answer: A more preferred activity can reinforce a less preferred activity. High-probability behaviors reinforce low-probability behaviors.
Flashcard 22: What is the role of a punisher?
Answer: A stimulus that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Any consequence that makes a behavior less likely to occur again.
Flashcard 23: Identify which schedule: Reinforcement after every 10 responses.
Answer: Fixed-ratio schedule. Reinforcement occurs after every 10th response consistently.
Flashcard 24: Identify which schedule: Reinforcement every 5 minutes.
Answer: Fixed-interval schedule. Reinforcement occurs at consistent 5-minute intervals.
Flashcard 25: Determine type: Adding a negative stimulus to decrease behavior.
Answer: Positive punishment. Adding something unpleasant weakens the target behavior.
Flashcard 26: What is the role of a reinforcer?
Answer: A stimulus that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Any consequence that makes a behavior more likely to occur again.
Flashcard 27: What is a discriminative stimulus?
Answer: A cue that signals the availability of reinforcement. Environmental signal indicating when reinforcement is available.
Flashcard 28: What is an operant response?
Answer: A behavior that is modified by its consequences. Voluntary behavior that operates on the environment for consequences.
Flashcard 29: What is a secondary reinforcer?
Answer: A reinforcer that gains value through association with primary reinforcers. Learned reinforcer through pairing with primary reinforcers.
Flashcard 30: What is a token economy?
Answer: A system where tokens are earned for desired behaviors and exchanged for rewards. Uses secondary reinforcers as intermediate rewards for target behaviors.