Operant Conditioning

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Operant Conditioning
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I. Operant Conditioning

• A type of learning that occurs when we receive
  rewards or punishments for our behavior
• Behaviors will increase if the consequences are
  reinforced
• Behaviors will decrease if the consequences are
  not reinforced

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CLASSICAL VS OPERANT

• CLASSICAL CONDITIONING
• 1 There is always a specific stimulus (UCS) that
  elicits a desired response (INVOLUNTARY)
• 2. (UCS) does not depend on the learners response
• 3. The learner responds to the environment
• 4. Generalization can occur when the same
  response occurs to a similar stimuli

• OPERANT CONDITIONING
• is a process by which the consequences of a
  response affect the likelihood that the response
  will occur again.
• The response is voluntary
• The subject plays a role in what happens
• Generalization can occur in that the individual
  MAY learn to generalize the response

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In Class Activity

• 1. CREATE A VISUAL(ANY KIND)
• - Handout, power point slide
• 2. PRESENT THE VISUAL
• 3. DESIGN, CREATE IMPLEMENT AN ACTIVITY
  THAT REINFORCES THE INFORMATION YOU ARE
  PRESENTING

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A. Edward Thorndike The Puzzle Box
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B. B.F. Skinner (1904-1990)

• Founder of operant conditioning
• Devised ways to test his theories in the real
  world
• (The Skinner Box)

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Components of Operant Conditioning

• Reinforcement - Any consequence that increases
  the likelihood of a response (behavior) will be
  repeated.
• a. Positive Reinforcement
• Will strengthen behaviors because the subject
  receives something they want

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Positive Reinforcement
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b. Negative Reinforcement

• Also strengthens the behavior, because something
  the subject doesnt like is removed
• Ex If you get all As, you wont have to mow
  the yard this summer.
• Extrinsic rewards????

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Negative Reinforcement
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Positive/Negative Reinforcement
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2. Primary vs. Secondary Reinforcers

• Primary Reinforcement
• Something that is naturally reinforcing
• Ex food, warmth, water, etc.

• Secondary Reinforcement
• Something that a person has learned to value
  often paired with a primary reinforcer
• Ex Kind words

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Schedules of Reinforcement
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Immediate vs. Delayed Reinforcement

• 1. Immediate given immediately after the
  desired behavior
• More effective
• 2. Delayed given after a period of time
  following the desired behavior

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3. Continuous Reinforcement a reward follows
every correct response

• Most useful way to establish a behavior
• The behavior will extinguish quickly once the
  reinforcement stops.

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4. Partial Reinforcement

• a reward follows only some correct responses

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Fixed Interval rewarding a response after some
defined period of time (ex you get paid 9/hour)

• Variable Interval rewarding a response after
  an unpredictable amount of time
• (ex your paycheck is sometimes late)

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5. Fixed Ratio rewarding a response after a
defined number of correct responses(ex paid 5
for every 3 pages you write)

• The faster the subject responds, the more
  reinforcements they will receive.
• 6. Variable Ratio rewarding an unpredictable
  number of correct responses (ex slot machine)

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Schedule Pros Cons
Variable Ratio High levels of response May not want to take your chances
Fixed Ratio More effort more reward Depends on how much you value the reward
Fixed Interval No over or under-exertion No personal control over availability of the reward
Variable Interval Keeps you guessing May cause you to quit or give up
Strengthening Power ?
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3. Aversive Control

• Any consequence that decreases the likelihood a
  behavior will be repeated
• An undesirable event

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Aversion Control

• Using an unpleasant stimulus to condition
• Negative reinforcement- take away
• something unpleasant or painful.
• Escape behave in a way to STOP unpleasant or
  painful thing.
• Avoidance behave in a way to PREVENT unpleasant
  or painful thing from starting
• Punishment inflict something unpleasant or
  painful to make you STOP

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Problems with Punishment

• Only works when the punisher is around
• May cause fear, anxiety, or low self-esteem
• Teaches aggression as a means to solve problems.
• Doesnt teach the appropriate or desired behavior.

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D. Operant Conditioning Procedures
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1. Shaping

• Reinforcing behaviors that are increasingly
  similar to the behavior you want
• Is used to establish a new behavior
• (Ex training an animal to jump through a hoop)

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Chaining

• Response chain - linking individual parts of
  something together to complete the final action
• Swimming