1. AP PSYCHOLOGY LEARNING
OPERANT CONDITIONING

2. OPERANT CONDITIONING Started by B.F. Skinner.
He looked at ways to look at contingences to look at consequence to try to manipulate and modify people’s behavior.

3. Shaping Behavior
What we are trying to do is learn how we can modify an organism’s behavior using the most effective means possible. We use reinforcement and punishment. Each organism interprets this differently.

4. KINDS OF REINFORCEMENT AND PUNISHMENT
Positive +
(adding stimulus)
Negative –
( removing stimulus)
Reinforcement
(label afterwards to describe increase in behavior)
Pos. Reinf.
(Adding pleasant consequence)
Neg. Reinf.
(Removing aversive Stimuli)
Punishment
(label afterwards to describe decrease in behavior)
Pos. Pun.
(Adding Aversive stimuli)
Neg. Pun.
(Removing pleasant stimuli)

5. How the labels work
The label of reinforcer or punisher is only applied after a behavior has increased or decreased. We may want something to be a punisher or reinforcer, but it is up to the organism and its response.

6. SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT

7. Types of Schedules of Reinforcement
Continuous reinforcement: every instance of a behavior is reinforced
Ratio schedules: Reinforcement is based on the number of behaviors required
Interval schedules: Reinforcement is based on the passage of time

8. Types of Schedules of Reinforcement
Fixed schedules: the requirements for reinforcement are always the same.
Variable schedules: the requirements for reinforcement change randomly.

9. Schedules of Reinforcement
Ratio
(based upon behavior)
Interval
(based upon time)
Fixed
(reinforce behaviors after a set number of responses)
Fixed Ratio
Fixed Interval
Variable
(provide reinforcers after an unpredictable number of responses)
Variable Ratio
Variable Interval

10. Fixed Ratio Examples
Giving a child candy EVERY time she picks up her toys
Getting paid after each car gets sold
Students may be given a prize after reading ten books
Factory workers getting paid by the piece (ex. $10 for every wallet made)

11. Fixed Interval Examples
Doing my job and receiving my paycheck monthly (last day of month)
The daily mail – I receive my mail at roughly the same time each day
A course where there are exams every three weeks (studying right before the exam and then stopping until the next round)

12. Variable Interval Examples
Unpredictable – reinforcement occurs after a random amount of time
Checking your phone for text messages – you do not know when you will be rewarded with a message, but continue to check until you do
A parent attending to the cries of a child. Parents will not typically attend to the child each time it cries, but will leave he or she to fuss for a period before attending.

13. Variable Ratio Examples
The classic of winning the jackpot on the slot machine after a changing number of times playing it.
Playing poker – I do not win every time, but must play in order to have a chance
Buying lottery tickets and winning occasionally

14. Be sure to positively reinforce your own studying for the AP Exam
End
Be sure to positively reinforce your own studying for the AP Exam