Understanding Positive and Negative Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning
This journal entry explores the concepts of positive and negative reinforcement within operant conditioning. Positive reinforcement occurs when a behavior is followed by a rewarding stimulus, encouraging its repetition, such as earning a stamp for note-taking. Conversely, negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to encourage behavior, such as taking painkillers to alleviate discomfort. Additionally, we delve into the schedules of reinforcement, including fixed interval, variable interval, fixed ratio, and variable ratio, highlighting their significance in shaping behaviors over time.
Understanding Positive and Negative Reinforcement in Operant Conditioning
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Presentation Transcript
Journal: Explain both positive and negative reinforcement and give an example of each
Operant Conditioning Part II Schedules of Reinforcement
Schedules of Reinforcement • Interval • Amount of time will pass before enforced • If you do nothing it will still happen in time • Ratio • # of times behavior will occur before enforced • You can’t just wait for it to happen in time, must do something!
Fixed Interval (FI) • A fixed amount of time must have passed between reinforcements • No matter how often behavior occurs, it will only be reinforced within certain amount of time • Ex. - Every 5 min. I will give you a stamp (worth 10 points) if you are taking notes • The person learns to engage in the appropriate behavior only when the appropriate interval has passed
Variable Interval (VI) • Timing of next reinforcement is unpredictable • Ex. – if teacher walks around room randomly giving stamps for students on task • This results in steadiest rate of responding • No one knows when pleasurable response (stamp) will come so students stay on task most of the time
Fixed Ratio (FR) • Reinforcement provided after a fixed number of correct responses • Ex. – a video store offers a video card that promises 1 free rental after the purchase of 5 • The person engages in behavior consistently with a brief rest after each reward
Variable Ratio (VR) • Reinforcement can come at any time after any number of tries • Ex. – a person playing a slot machine is rewarded occasionally after a different number of pulls each time • To ensure the highest rate of success, the subject does the behavior as fast as possible knowing that the more times they do the behavior the more times they are likely to be successful.
Activity! • Please get in a group of 3 or 4 • You will need one paper with all of your names on it for the group response • Pass out activity sheet