Schedule of Reinforcement
A schedule of reinforcement is basically a rule stating which instances of a behavior will be reinforced. In some case, a behavior might be reinforced every time it occurs. Sometimes, a behavior might not be reinforced at all.
In operant conditioning, schedules of reinforcement are an important component of the learning process. When and how often we reinforce a behavior can have a dramatic impact on the strength and rate of the response.
Goal: to always to strengthen the behavior and increase the likelihood that it will occur again in the future.
In operant conditioning, schedules of reinforcement are an important component of the learning process. When and how often we reinforce a behavior can have a dramatic impact on the strength and rate of the response.
Goal: to always to strengthen the behavior and increase the likelihood that it will occur again in the future.
Continuous Reinforcement
In continuous reinforcement, the desired behavior is reinforced every single time it occurs. This schedule is best used during the initial stages of learning in order to create a strong association between the behavior and the response. Once the response if firmly attached, reinforcement is usually switched to a partial reinforcement schedule.
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Partial Reinforcement
Choosing a Schedule
Deciding when to reinforce a behavior can depend upon a number of factors. In cases where you are specifically trying to teach a new behavior, a continuous schedule is often a good choice. Once the behavior has been learned, switching to a partial schedule is often preferable.
B.F. Skinner
Key Concepts & Vocab
- Fixed-Ratio Schedule: reinforcement should be delivered after a constant or “fixed” number of correct responses
- Fixed-Interval Schedule: reinforcement becomes available after a specific period of time
- Variable-Ratio Schedule: the delivery of reinforcement will “vary” but must average out at a specific number
- Variable-Interval Schedule: the time periods that must pass before reinforcement becomes available will “vary” but must average out at a specific time interval.