Psychology of Learning: Operant Conditioning

Psychology of Learning:Operant

Conditioning

Dr. K. A. KorbUniversity of Jos

Overview Operant Conditioning Overview Reinforcement Schedules Introduction to Cognitive Theories of

Learning


Operant Conditioning


Operant Conditioning Law of effect: Responses followed by

positive outcomes are repeated while those followed by negative outcomes are not

Operant Conditioning: Learn to behave in ways that result in reinforcement



Response

Reinforcement: Repeat Behavior

Punishment: Behavior Ends

Positive: Presentation

Positive Reinforcement

PositivePunishment

Negative: Removal

NegativeReinforcement

NegativePunishmentS

timulus

Stimulus


Operant Conditioning Reinforcement: Increase likelihood of response

Positive Reinforcement: Strengthens response by presenting a pleasant stimulus

Negative Reinforcement: Strengthens a response by removing an unpleasant stimulus

Punishment: Decrease likelihood of response Positive Punishment: Weakens a response through

presentation of unpleasant stimulus Negative Punishment: Weakens a response through

removing a pleasant stimulus


Operant ConditioningStimulus Response Type

StudyGood gradePositive

Reinforcement

HomeworkNot sweep compound

Negative Reinforcement

Disrespect Teacher

Sent to headmaster

Positive Punishment

Cheat on homework

No break-timeNegative

Punishment


Operant Conditioning Clapping hands for answering

Stimulus: Clapping hands Response: Answering Positive Reinforcement

Grounded for being late Stimulus: Removal of friends Response: Late Negative Punishment


Operant Conditioning Pinch for misbehaving

Stimulus: Pinch Response: Misbehaving Positive Punishment

Pepe in soup Stimulus: Pepe Response: Eat soup Negative Reinforcement


Operant ConditioningStimulus Response Type

Positive Reinforcement

Negative Reinforcement

Positive Punishment

Negative Punishment


Reinforcement Positive Reinforcement

Premack Principle: More desired activity is a positive reinforcer for a less desired activity

Observe students to determine most effective reinforcer


Punishment Negative Punishment

Extinction: Ignore the inappropriate behavior by a child

Time Out: Remove a student from a reinforcing environment

Remove all reinforcement Consistently maintain Short (1 minute per year of child)

Response Cost: Remove previously earned rewards


Punishment Advantages

When used carefully and rarely, provides information about inappropriate behaviors

Disadvantages Obedience is not permanent May classically condition negative emotions Long history may lead to psychological harm


Learned Helplessness

Learned Helplessness: Expectation all efforts lead to failure



DiscriminativeStimulus

OperantResponse

ContingentStimulus

Classical Conditioning

ConditionedStimulus

ConditionedResponse


Operant Conditioning Discriminative Stimulus: Learn cues for

when to demonstrate behavior Superstitions: Any discriminant cue

associated with a highly rewarding experience may be reinforced, resulting in a superstitious practice


Operant ConditioningClassical Conditioning

Involuntary Responses A conditioned stimulus

becomes associated with an unconditioned stimulus that results in a conditioned response

Operant Conditioning Voluntary Responses A behavior (response)

is associated with a reinforcer or punishment (stimulus) that influences future behavior


Teaching via Operant Conditioning Shaping: Reinforcing successive

approximations of a desired behavior Chaining: Reinforcing simple behaviors

that combine to a more complex behavior


Operant Conditioning:Maintaining Behavior Reinforcement schedules

Continuous: Reinforced after every behavior Fixed Interval: Reinforced after fixed interval

of time Variable Interval: Reinforced after average

amount of time Fixed Ratio: Reinforced after fixed number of

responses Variable Ratio: Reinforced after average

number of responses


Operant Conditioning:Maintaining Behavior

Fixed

Behavior Reward

1

2

3 X

4

5

6 X

7

8

9 X

10

11

12 X

13

14

15 X

Variable

Behavior Reward

1

2 X

3

4

5 X

6

7

8

9 X

10

11 X

12

13

14

15 X



Fixed: Consistent

Variable:Irregularly

Time Fixed Interval Variable Interval

Number of Responses

Fixed Ratio Variable Ratio


Operant Conditioning:Maintaining Behavior Reinforcing Mathematics Learning

Fixed Interval: Quiz every 3 weeks Variable Interval: Quiz about every 3 weeks Fixed Ratio: Reward after every 20 correct

problems Variable Ratio: Reward after about every 20

correct problems


Operant Conditioning:Maintaining Behavior


Educational Implications Planning Behavioral Change

Collect baseline data Set behavioral goals Select procedures for changing behavior Implement procedures and record results Evaluate progress and revise as necessary


Educational Implications Class Attendance

Baseline Data: Students attend 50% of classes

Goal: Students attend 90% of classes Procedure: Students will receive a coupon for

a free chore for every 30 classes they attend Record Results: Evaluate progress: Great improvement in

attendance


Educational ImplicationsClassroom Attendance

40%

45%

50%

55%

60%

65%

70%

75%

80%

85%

90%

Baseline Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5


Operant Conditioning Strengths

Effective for short-term behavior modification Straight-forward and easy to implement

Criticisms Does not address cognitive processes Behavior ends when reinforcement ends May hinder intrinsic motivation


Rewards and Motivation Motivation

Intrinsic Motivation: Perform an activity for inherent satisfaction in the activity

Extrinsic Motivation: Perform an activity for a reason external to the activity

Motivation: Self Determination Theory Rewards make one feel manipulated

Attitudes: Cognitive Dissonance Theory Justify behavior by rewards


Operant Conditioning Overview Results: Voluntary Responses Means

Reinforcement increases behavior Punishment decreases behavior

Inputs: Reinforcement and Punishment


Operant Conditioning Overview Learning Outcomes: Voluntary reactions Role of the Learner: Passive Role of the Instructor: Provide reinforcement

and punishment as necessary Inputs for Learning: Reinforcement and

Punishment Process of Learning: Associate reinforcement

and punishment with behaviors


Revision Describe the four types of operant

conditioning Describe the five types of reward

schedules Which type of reward schedule leads to

the best behavior?


Documents

Psychology of Learning: Operant Conditioning