Psychology of LearningEXP4404

Chapter 6: Schedules of Reinforcement

Dr. Steve

Topics Covered

Intermittent Schedules of Reinforcement FR, VR, FI, VI

Other Simple Schedules Resistance to Extinction

Partial Reinforcement Effect Theories of PRE

Complex Schedules Matching Law Applications of Research

Schedules of Reinforcement Schedule of Reinforcement

Continuous vs. Intermittent Schedules Continuous Reinforcement (CRF) Intermittent Reinforcement Schedules

Intermittent Schedules

Fixed Ratio (FR) Post-Reinforcement Pause (aka, Preratio

Pause)

Variable Ratio (VR)

Intermittent Schedules

Fixed Interval (FI)

Intermittent Schedules

Variable Interval (VI)

Intermittent Schedules

Intermittent Schedules

Other Simple Schedules

Fixed Duration (FD)

Variable Duration (VD)

Differential Reinforcement of Low Rate (DRL) Differential Reinforcement of High Rate

(DRH)

Other Simple Schedules

Noncontingent Reinforcement (NR) – Fixed Time (FT) Variable Time (VT)

Other Simple Schedules

Resistance to Extinction

Stretching the Ratio

Partial Reinforcement Effect (PRE)

Resistance to Extinction

Resistance to Extinction

Partial Reinforcement Effect

Theories to Explain PRE Discrimination Hypothesis Frustration Hypothesis

Resistance to Extinction

Theories to Explain PRE Sequential Hypothesis Response Unit Hypothesis

Resistance to Extinction

Resistance to Extinction

Response Unit Hypothesis

*Response (unit) defined as the number of lever presses required for reinforcement

Complex Schedules

Multiple Schedule

Mixed Schedule Chain Schedule Tandem Schedule

Complex Schedules

Comparison of Complex Schedules (so far)

Complex Schedules

Reinforcement only after All Phases Complete

Reinforcement throughout learning on schedule

Discriminative Stimulus (SD) for each phase

No Discriminative Stimulus (SD) for each phase

Cooperative Schedules Social Loafing?

Concurrent Schedules

Complex Schedules

Matching Law

Given the choice of 2 schedules, what happens? Matching Law (Herrnstein, 1961)

B1/B2 = r1/r2

Applications of Schedules of Reinforcement

Training Problem of errorless training

Parenting