Operant Conditioning The Main Features of Operant Conditioning: Types of Reinforcement and Punishment

In pairs discuss how you would… Teach a dog how to sit? Teach a child to stop hitting his baby sister?

What is it? Operant conditioning forms an association between a behaviour and a consequence. A type of learning in which future behaviour is determined by the consequences of past behaviour. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fanm--WyQJo&feature=related

How is it Different from Classical Conditioning? Considers voluntary behaviour rather than involuntary behaviour. When individuals start and stop a behaviour. 2. Consequences come after the results rather whereas in Classical conditioning the association comes before the response.

Thorndike’s Puzzle Boxes Put hungry cats into a ‘puzzle box’, food outside box outside of reach Cat had to get out of box to get food. Trial and Error: solution is hit upon through trial and error The more times a cat was put in the box, the faster it got out (fewer trials) After 7 trials would go straight for lever and get out immediately. Lever pushing now learnt, not random

Thorndike’s Law of effect a behavior that is followed by ‘satisfying’ consequences is strengthened (more likely to occur) and a behavior that is followed by ‘annoying’ consequences is weakened (less likely to occur) Law of effect: If the effect of learning is good then the behavior will be repeated.

The famous psychologists (p166) Read pages 166 and 167. Draw and label a Skinner box and then describe how the procedure and the findings.

Operant Conditioning Reinforcement Punishment

Your Task Using Page 216 define the following terms: Skinner’s Box Principle’s of Operant Conditioning: ABC Model of Operant Conditioning

Reinforcements http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_9ZZaPDtPk&feature=related Behaviours are learnt by reinforcements. A reinforcement is used to strengthen a desired behaviour, they can either be positive or negative. Positive reinforcements (such as a reward) involves the presenting a pleasant stimulus. Negative reinforcements involves taking an unpleasant stimulus away. These are things which are good when it stops.

Punishment Punishment : Positive punishment : Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences. Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences that are unpleasant. Positive punishment : A child is naughty at a party and the parent scolds them. Negative punishment : Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood of the behaviour being repeated by taking something pleasant away. A child is naughty at a party and the takes away the child’s favourite toy with they return home.

Write each scenario using a positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement or a punishment. By schools to increase good behaviour. Schools to stop students from being late. By the government to decrease crime. If you are feeling really keen try and complete all three for each example.

Exam Questions: A01 Define: (1 mark each) Operant Conditioning Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Punishment Positive Punishment Negative Punishment 2. Outline the principles of operant conditioning. (3)

Exam Questions: A02 Becca’s parents would like to teach her to be responsible around the hour. Using operant condition, describe how Becca could be taught to be responsible. ( 4 marks)

Operant Conditioning Properties of Reinforcement: primary and secondary reinforcement and schedules of reinforcement.

Let’s Build our Brain Power: Q & A time Operant Conditioning Positive Reinforcement Negative Reinforcement Punishment Positive Punishment Negative Punishment ABC Model of Operant Conditioning Thorndike Skinner

In Operant Conditioning there are two types of reinforces: Primary and secondary reinforces Primary Reinforcers are naturally occurring, they satisfy a basic need. Secondary Reinforcers are associated with the primary reinforcers Primary reinforcers Secondary reinforcers Food when hungry money

Problem! Jill receives a toy every time she cleans her room.

Schedules of Reinforcement Continuous Reinforcement: when the behaviour is reinforced every single time it is completed. Partial Reinforcement: when the behaviour is rewarded at various times rather than after every single time the behaviour is exhibited.

Schedules of Reinforcement

Ratio Number of times

Fixed-Ratio Schedules The response is reinforced only after a specified number of responses. Every 5th question a teacher asks a reward is given for a correct answer.

Variable-Ratio Occur when a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses. Poker machines - expected payout, but don’t know when

Interval After time has elapsed

Fixed-Interval schedule The first response is rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed On the 30th day of every month a reward is given for having a clean room.

Variable-Interval Schedule Occur when a response is rewarded after an unpredictable amount of time has passed. Once a month a reward is given for having a clean room, that day is unknown and changes every month.

Real world application Using the Key Words from today’s lesson describe how operant conditioning can be used in prison to promote good behaviour. Now read page 218 how close was your description?

Behaviour Modification H/W: Token Economy Complete the document called: Token Economy. Use the document Token Economy text to complete the table. You have two h/w’s to complete.

Behaviour Modification: Shaping and Token Economy Operant Conditioning Behaviour Modification: Shaping and Token Economy

Operant Conditioning can be used to shape behaviour The complete desired behaviour may not be exhibited immediately but non the less that behaviour must be reinforced. Shaping is: Rewarding moves towards the desired behaviour. The waiting for an action that is nearer to the desired behaviour. Finally, waiting for the actual behaviour before offering reinforcement. Example: Skinner Language Acquisition Token Economy TEP

Shaping and Language: Read Below and try an put the events into the correct order. These are reinforced not only by praise and attention but other positive reinforcers as a child who can say ‘bicci’ is more likely to get one. Initially babies make noises - called babbling – and these are positively reinforced by people around them by praise and attention. According to Skinner (1957) children acquire language through operant conditioning. This increases the likelihood that the infant will babble. Reinforces will be then more likely to occur if the babbling sounds like words, so the infant is selectively rewarded for speech like sounds. Sounds that are not appropriate are ignored and not reinforced and therefore not repeated.   Some aspects cannot be accounted for through operant conditioning. Children make persistent mistakes such as the word ‘runned’ for which they have not been reinforced. This suggests they are using rules to guide speech. The selective reinforcing of word like sounds continues, this is called shaping until the child produces actual words.

Real world application: TEP Children in a school Teenagers in secondary school Young offender just released from prison