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