LEARNING

OPERANT CONDITIONING

Schedules of Reinforcement

When an animal is learning a new response, a

reward must be given every time the response
occurs to ensure that it is repeated reliably.
This schedule of one reward for every correct
response is called continuous reinforcement.
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Skinner found that the response did not need to

be rewarded every time to make it likely to
reoccur.
Giving reinforcement after a number of responses
is called
partial reinforcement
or
intermittent reinforcement.
OPERANT CONDITIONING
Partial Reinforcement

Some, but not all correct

responses are reinforced

RATIO SCHEDULE
reward given after a set number of responses
(response based)

INTERVAL SCHEDULE
reward given after a period of time
(time based)
 OPERANT CONDITIONING

Both the ratio (number) and the interval (time)

can be either :
FIXED – after 5 responses or after 5 minutes
or
VARIABLE – after an average number or
average time (not consistent).
 Schedules of Reinforcement

Continuous Reinforcement
Faster learning and high rate
of responding.
Every correct Less resistant to extinction.
response
is reinforced

Partial Reinforcement

Some, but not all

More resistant to correct responses
extinction are reinforced
 Operant Conditioning

Generalisation Discrimination Extinction

When previously
A young child who We learn to board reinforced
touches a hot stove buses, trains, etc, behaviours
learns to avoid marked by no longer pay off,
other burners different symbols we are likely to
abandon them
 Stimulus Discrimination
People are very adept at stimulus
discrimination.

We choose our stimuli according

to those we think will lead to a
reinforcing response.

E.g. the types of clothes we wear and the way we

behave in particular company.
 Extinction
In operant conditioning, extinction is the gradual
decrease in the strength or rate of a response
established by reinforcement, following consistent
non-reinforcement of the response.
Applications
Animal Training
Shaping and training animals has
been used to enhance human
welfare and benefit animal lives:
• law enforcement
• entertainment
• rescue
• assist the blind or disabled
• military
 Shaping

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Shaping: Invader Game
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