Transcript Schedules of Reinforcement Lesson 15 Schedules of RFT Frequency of RFT after response is important  Continuous RFT  RFT after each response  Fast Acquisition  shaping 

Schedules of
Reinforcement
Lesson 15
Schedules of RFT
Frequency of RFT after response is
important
 Continuous RFT
 RFT after each response
 Fast Acquisition
 shaping
 Partial RFT
 RFT after only some responses
 Conditions set ~

Partial Schedule of RFT
Do not reinforce every response
 Slower acquisition
 start CRF  shift to partial
 Different patterns of RFT produce
different patterns of responding
 Cumulative response curves
 steeper curve  higher operant
strength
 e.g., higher motivation ~

Cumulative Response Curve
higher operant strength
number
of
responses
lower operant strength
Time
Typical RFT Patterns
Ratio
 RFT after certain number of responses
 Interval
 RFT after certain time interval
 Fixed
 Same ratio or interval each time
 Variable
 Average ratio or interval ~


patterns of RFT are combined
Fixed
Variable
Ratio
FR
VR
Interval
FI
VI
Schedules produce different
response rates

In general…
 Ratio > Interval
 Variable > Fixed
 VR = highest ~
Ratio patterns of response
Animal controls RFT
 faster responses  faster RFT
 Fixed Ratio
 high ratio (FR50)  hi response rate

pause
after each RFT
Why?

Low ratio (FR5)  lower response rate
steady ~
Fixed Ratio Response Patterns
FR50
number
of
responses
FR5
Time
Variable Ratio
RFT after average of X responses
 VR10 = RFT after 7 responses

21 responses
30 responses
 3 RFTs in 30 responses = 10 avg.
 High, steady rate of response
 why?
 Give an example of humans on VR ~
VR
FR50
number
of
responses
FR5
Time
Interval Patterns of Response


RFT when R made after a period of time
 Experimenter controls RFT
Fixed Interval
 e.g., FI30
 Scalloping
slower
responding after RFT
speeds up as nears time for RFT
Human example?
Why? ~


Interval Patterns of Response
Variable Interval
 RFT for response after avg. of X
seconds
 e.g. VI30
 Slow, steady responding
 Human example?
What if they checked on FI schedule? ~

Variable Interval
FI
number
of
responses
VI
Time
Differential Schedules

DRH
Differential RFT of high rates of responding
High rate  RFT
 Low rate  extinction or punishment
 Time limit/deadline
 DRL

Differential RFT of low rates of responding


Set interval between response
Early B  no RFT, timer reset ~
Differential Schedules
Pacing schedules
 too slow/fast  no RFT, punishment
 DRO

Differential
RFT of Other Behavior
RFT of any B other than target B
 Used along with punishment
 DRI

Differential

RFT of Incompatible Behavior
RFT of prosocial vs. antisocial ~
Schedule Effects
Behavioral contrast
 After change in RFT schedule
 Positive: lean  rich
 Negative: rich  lean
 often temporary
 Behavioral momentum
 Or behavioral persistence
 B continues even when RFT
changes ~

Partial RFT Effect
Maintains behavior over time
 Learn more responses required for
RFT
 Surprising Reinforcers
 Attract greater attention
  deprivation   RFT magnitude
 Gradual shift
 CRF  Partial RFT ~

Schedule of RFT & Extinction
What if B  no SR ?
 Behavior weakens
 Extinction
 Extinction occurs quickly for CRF
 Why? ~

Schedule of RFT & Extinction
CRF
 expectation of RFT every time
 Partial  resistant to extinction
 RFT not expected every time
 Variable more resistant than fixed
 fixed = expectation of regular RFT ~

Partial RFT Extinction Effect
PREE
 Why more resistant to extinction?
 Discrimination Hypothesis
 May not immediately notice when
no longer RFT
 Frustration Theory
 Learn to respond while frustrated
 RFT for responding while
frustrated ~
