1. Operant Conditioning
Unit 7
Lesson 2

2. Objectives Describe and apply components of operant conditioning.
Identify B.F. Skinner.
Analyze uses and effectiveness of reinforcement and punishment.
Describe reinforcement schedules.

3. Warm Up What is learning?
Relatively permanent change in behavior that results from experience.

4. Review of Prior Learning
You always talk to your (boy/girl) friend while sitting in your beanbag chair. After an ugly breakup, you find that even looking at the chair upsets you, so you give it to Goodwill.
Identify the NS-UCS-UCR-CS-CR
What would be occurring if you couldn’t sit in any chair while talking on the phone?
What if you only refused to sit in beanbag chairs?
What if you go away to college and your roommate has a chair that makes you chuckle as you sit in it and think about the story?
And this can only occur after it’s gone away which is called?

5. Classical vs. Operant Conditioning
Environment provides the stimulus and the subject responds.
Operant
Environment responds to the subject’s behavior (stimulus).

6. Edward Thorndike Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Rewarded behavior likely to recur

7. B.F. Skinner
Behavior influenced by history of its consequences

8. Skinner Box

9. Shaping
Reward behaviors close to the behavior he was looking for until animal performed desired behavior.

10. Operant Conditioning Reward A.k.a. Positive Reinforcement
Actions taken that result in  consequences
Behavior more likely to occur again
Punishment
Actions taken that result in  consequences
Behavior less likely to occur again

11. Operant Conditioning Negative Reinforcement
Actions taken to avoid punishments
Behavior more likely to occur again
Omission Training
Actions taken which result in something  being taken away
Behavior less likely to occur again

12. Operant Conditioning Chart
Pleasant
Aversive
Positive
Reinforcement
Punishment
Omission
Training
Negative + _

13. Introduction to Operant Conditioning “problems”
Activity
Introduction to Operant Conditioning “problems”
When you’ve worked your way through the problem, identify which principle of operant conditioning is at work.
( +R, -R, OT, P)
+ Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten
Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins
Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins
- Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

14. Closure Day 1
Use all 4 principles of operant conditioning to describe how you’d get a child to eat spinach without complaining.
Premack Principle- Use more preferred activity to motivate you to do less preferred activity
+ Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten
Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins
Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins
- Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

15. Day 2 Warm Up
What’s the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
Classical-subject responds to environment
Operant – environment responds to subject’s behavior.
+ Reinforcement: Give child dessert as soon as spinach eaten
Punishment: send to room, yell if complaining begins
Omission: take dessert away if complaining begins
- Reinforcement: eat spinach without complaining and you don’t have to eat your liver

16. Review Which principle of operant conditioning…
Presents something unpleasant?
Takes something pleasant away?
Takes something unpleasant away?
Presents something pleasant?

17. Types of Reinforcers Primary Reinforcer Secondary Reinforcer
Value doesn’t need to be learned.
Satisfies basic human need.
Ex: Food, sleep
Secondary Reinforcer
Value has to be learned
Without conditioning, it would have no +/- value
Ex: $, Praise, Hug, Grades
Train dog to “sit”.
Stimulus = “Sit” Behavior is sitting
If sit, the dog gets treat, which is primary reinforcer
As feed, say “good dog”, which is secondary reinforcer
Repeat process often, gradually give dog less food, will still sit b/c “Good Dog” becomes reinforcement.

18. Providing Reinforcement
Continuous Reinforcement
Reinforcement given every time desired behavior occurs
Partial Reinforcement
Reinforcement only given sometimes after desired behavior occurs.

19. Online Activity PsychSim 5.0 “Operant Conditioning”
This activity will review classical and operant conditioning and introduce you to schedules of reinforcement.

20. 4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement
Ratio Schedule
# of correct responses subject makes between reinforcement
Interval Schedule
Amt of time that passes before reinforcement given
Rate of Reinforcement:
Fixed
If time or # of responses is constant
Variable
If time or # of responses is random

21. 4 Schedules of Partial Reinforcement
Fixed-Ratio
Reinforcement occurs after specific, unchanging # of responses.
Variable-Ratio
Reinforcement occurs after unpredictable # of responses.
Fixed-Interval
Reinforcement occurs after set amt of time
Variable-Interval
Reinforcement occurs at unpredictable time interval

22. Schedules of Reinforcement
Activity
Schedules of Reinforcement

23. (Principles and Reinforcement Schedules)
Activity
Operant Practice
(Principles and Reinforcement Schedules)

24. Closure
What is the difference between operant and classical conditioning?