Operant Conditioning AQA A level Psychology
- 2. Starter quiz! Starter quiz! 1.What is the main difference between operant and classical conditioning? 2.In operant conditioning, what is a positive reinforcement? 3.What is an example of negative reinforcement? 4.Who is most associated with operant conditioning? 5.In classical conditioning, what is the term for the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus? 6.Describe the method used in Watson and Rayner's "Little Albert" experiment. 7.What conclusion did Watson and Rayner draw from their "Little Albert" experiment?
- 3. Starter quiz! Starter quiz! •What is the main difference between operant and classical conditioning? Answer: Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences (rewards and punishments), while classical conditioning involves learning through association between two stimuli. •In operant conditioning, what is a positive reinforcement? Answer: Positive reinforcement is adding a pleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated. •What is an example of negative reinforcement? Answer: Turning off an annoying alarm when a person wakes up is an example of negative reinforcement, as it involves removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of waking up on time. •Who is most associated with operant conditioning? Answer: B.F. Skinner. •In classical conditioning, what is the term for the learned response to a previously neutral stimulus? Answer: Conditioned Response (CR). •Describe the method used in Watson and Rayner's "Little Albert" experiment. Answer: Watson and Rayner exposed a young child, Little Albert, to a white rat (neutral stimulus) and then paired it with a loud noise (unconditioned stimulus) that scared him. After several pairings, Albert began to show fear (conditioned response) towards the white rat, even without the noise. •What conclusion did Watson and Rayner draw from their "Little Albert" experiment? Answer: Watson and Rayner concluded that emotional responses, like fear, could be conditioned in humans through classical conditioning by associating a neutral stimulus with a fear-inducing event.
- 4. DIFFERENT FROM CLASSICAL DIFFERENT FROM CLASSICAL CLASSICAL: Experimenter presents UCS CLASSICAL: Experimenter presents UCS and CS and then observes the behavior and CS and then observes the behavior OPERANT: Participant / Animal must OPERANT: Participant / Animal must behave in a certain way to get a reward behave in a certain way to get a reward or avoid a punishment or avoid a punishment Def. – Learning in which reinforcement is Def. – Learning in which reinforcement is contingent upon the subject’s behavior. contingent upon the subject’s behavior.
- 5. REINFORCEMENT REINFORCEMENT REWARD / PUNISHMENT REWARD / PUNISHMENT POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: Get a reward or receive something you like for Get a reward or receive something you like for doing the desired behavior doing the desired behavior Social approval, money, food Social approval, money, food NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: Something unpleasant is taken away for doing Something unpleasant is taken away for doing desired behavior desired behavior Homework, chores, sales tax on tax free weekend Homework, chores, sales tax on tax free weekend
- 6. B.F. SKINNER B.F. SKINNER Psychologist most Psychologist most closely associated closely associated with operant with operant conditioning conditioning
- 7. SKINNER BOX SKINNER BOX In Skinner's Box, an animal (usually a rat or pigeon) is placed in a chamber with a lever. Pressing the lever results in a reward, like food (positive reinforcement), or stops an unpleasant stimulus, like a mild shock (negative reinforcement). This setup demonstrates how behavior is shaped by rewards and punishments, central to operant conditioning.
- 9. REINFORCEMENT cont. REINFORCEMENT cont. PRIMARY PRIMARY REINFORCEMENT: REINFORCEMENT: satisfies a biological satisfies a biological need such as hunger, need such as hunger, thirst, or sleep, etc. thirst, or sleep, etc. SECONDARY SECONDARY REINFORCEMENT: REINFORCEMENT: one that has been paired one that has been paired with a primary re- with a primary re- inforcer through inforcer through classical conditioning. classical conditioning.
- 10. SHAPING SHAPING Technique used to teach animals / Technique used to teach animals / people a more complicated task people a more complicated task The subject is rewarded for each The subject is rewarded for each response that is closer to the final response that is closer to the final desired behavior desired behavior Successive approximations Successive approximations
- 11. SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT SCHEDULES OF REINFORCEMENT CONTINUOUS CONTINUOUS RATIO: RATIO: reinforcement is given after a certain reinforcement is given after a certain NUMBER NUMBER of responses. of responses. FIXED RATIO: reinforcement is given after FIXED RATIO: reinforcement is given after the same number of responses each time the same number of responses each time VARIABLE RATIO: reinforcement after VARIABLE RATIO: reinforcement after varying number of responses. varying number of responses.
- 12. SCHEDULES cont. SCHEDULES cont. INTERVAL: INTERVAL: reinforcement is given after a certain reinforcement is given after a certain amount of amount of TIME. TIME. FIXED INTERVAL: FIXED INTERVAL: reinforcement is given reinforcement is given after the same amount of time each time. after the same amount of time each time. VARIABLE INTERVAL: amount of time VARIABLE INTERVAL: amount of time changes between reinforcements changes between reinforcements
- 13. Exam testing! Exam testing! Sophie’s parents want her to improve her Sophie’s parents want her to improve her grades. To encourage her, they promise to give grades. To encourage her, they promise to give her £10 every time she receives an A on a test. her £10 every time she receives an A on a test. After receiving the money for her first A, Sophie After receiving the money for her first A, Sophie continues to work hard and improve her grades. continues to work hard and improve her grades. Using your knowledge of operant conditioning, Using your knowledge of operant conditioning, explain which type of reinforcement is being used explain which type of reinforcement is being used in this scenario and why it is effective. (4 marks) in this scenario and why it is effective. (4 marks)
- 14. Exam testing! Exam testing! Sophie’s parents want her to improve her grades. To encourage her, Sophie’s parents want her to improve her grades. To encourage her, they promise to give her £10 every time she receives an A on a test. they promise to give her £10 every time she receives an A on a test. After receiving the money for her first A, Sophie continues to work hard After receiving the money for her first A, Sophie continues to work hard and improve her grades. and improve her grades. Using your knowledge of operant conditioning, explain which type of Using your knowledge of operant conditioning, explain which type of reinforcement is being used in this scenario and why it is effective. (4 marks) reinforcement is being used in this scenario and why it is effective. (4 marks) •2 marks for correctly identifying positive reinforcement (Sophie is rewarded with money for good behavior). •2 marks for explaining how this reinforcement increases the likelihood of Sophie continuing to work hard for good grades.
- 15. EXAMPLES EXAMPLES Typist gets paid $2 per page Typist gets paid $2 per page Fixed ratio Fixed ratio Slot machines Slot machines Variable ratio Variable ratio Giving a quiz every Friday Giving a quiz every Friday Fixed interval Fixed interval
- 17. CHAINING CHAINING Learning simple skills, that when Learning simple skills, that when combined together enable the subject combined together enable the subject to perform more complex tasks. to perform more complex tasks. Examples: Examples: Reading, writing, math, sports, etc. Reading, writing, math, sports, etc.
- 18. AVERSIVE CONTROL AVERSIVE CONTROL Using an unpleasant stimulus to influence Using an unpleasant stimulus to influence behavior. behavior. NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT: when an unpleasant stimulus is removed after a when an unpleasant stimulus is removed after a certain behavior. certain behavior. ESCAPE CONDITIONING: A person’s behavior causes an ESCAPE CONDITIONING: A person’s behavior causes an unpleasant event to stop unpleasant event to stop AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING: Training of an organism t AVOIDANCE CONDITIONING: Training of an organism t withdraw from an unpleasant stimulus before it starts. withdraw from an unpleasant stimulus before it starts. Cliff's Buzzer
- 19. Exam testing! Exam testing! Describe Skinner’s Box experiment and explain how it demonstrates the principles of operant conditioning. (6 marks)
- 20. Exam testing! Exam testing! Describe Skinner’s Box experiment and explain how it demonstrates the principles of operant conditioning. (6 marks) •2 marks for a clear and accurate description of Skinner’s Box. •2 marks for explaining positive reinforcement (e.g., receiving food after pressing the lever). •2 marks for explaining negative reinforcement (e.g., stopping a shock after pressing the lever) and its role in shaping behavior.
- 21. PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT An unpleasant An unpleasant consequence occurs consequence occurs and and decreases decreases the the frequency of the frequency of the behavior that behavior that produced it produced it Big Bang Part 2
- 22. DISADVANTAGES OF DISADVANTAGES OF PUNISHMENT PUNISHMENT Unwanted side effects: rage, fear, Unwanted side effects: rage, fear, aggression (spanked children may aggression (spanked children may become more aggressive) become more aggressive) Subjects learn to avoid the punisher Subjects learn to avoid the punisher Punishment may suppress rather than Punishment may suppress rather than eliminate such behaviors eliminate such behaviors Alone it does not teach what is Alone it does not teach what is acceptable behavior acceptable behavior
- 23. EXAMPLES EXAMPLES Which schedule of reinforcement is being Which schedule of reinforcement is being used? used? Factory workers? Factory workers? Fixed interval Fixed interval Getting paid by the bale for hauling hay? Getting paid by the bale for hauling hay? Fixed ratio Fixed ratio Pop quizzes? Pop quizzes? Variable interval Variable interval
- 24. Exam testing Exam testing Jack often forgets to do his homework. His Jack often forgets to do his homework. His teacher has started keeping him in detention teacher has started keeping him in detention after school whenever he forgets to turn it in. As a after school whenever he forgets to turn it in. As a result, Jack has begun to remember to complete result, Jack has begun to remember to complete his homework more frequently. his homework more frequently. Using your understanding of operant conditioning, Using your understanding of operant conditioning, explain which type of punishment is being applied in explain which type of punishment is being applied in this situation and discuss how it has influenced Jack's this situation and discuss how it has influenced Jack's behavior. (4 marks) behavior. (4 marks)
- 25. Exam testing Exam testing Jack often forgets to do his homework. His teacher has started keeping him Jack often forgets to do his homework. His teacher has started keeping him in detention after school whenever he forgets to turn it in. As a result, Jack in detention after school whenever he forgets to turn it in. As a result, Jack has begun to remember to complete his homework more frequently. has begun to remember to complete his homework more frequently. Using your understanding of operant conditioning, explain which type of Using your understanding of operant conditioning, explain which type of punishment is being applied in this situation and discuss how it has influenced punishment is being applied in this situation and discuss how it has influenced Jack's behavior. (4 marks) Jack's behavior. (4 marks) •2 marks for correctly identifying positive punishment (Jack receives detention for not doing homework). •2 marks for explaining how this punishment decreases the likelihood of Jack forgetting to complete his homework.
- 26. Homework from the teacher’s Homework from the teacher’s perspective perspective Behavior desired from the student? Behavior desired from the student? Complete homework assignments Complete homework assignments Reinforcement being offered? Reinforcement being offered? grades grades Positive or negative? Positive or negative? Primary or secondary? Primary or secondary? Overworked / underpaid teacher doesn’t want to have Overworked / underpaid teacher doesn’t want to have to grade EVERY assignment to grade EVERY assignment Which schedule of reinforcement would be most Which schedule of reinforcement would be most beneficial for the teacher to use? beneficial for the teacher to use? Variable ratio Variable ratio
- 27. POKER CHIMPS POKER CHIMPS Shaping was used to get chimps to perform Shaping was used to get chimps to perform tasks for food tasks for food Classical conditioning was then used to teach Classical conditioning was then used to teach the chimps to associate poker chips with food. the chimps to associate poker chips with food. Soon the chimps were performing tasks to get Soon the chimps were performing tasks to get poker chips to exchange for food in the chip- poker chips to exchange for food in the chip- o-mat o-mat Generalization and discrimination Generalization and discrimination
- 28. Which type of rft. is best for. . .? Which type of rft. is best for. . .? . . . introducing a new behavior? . . . introducing a new behavior? . . . maintaining a behavior for a long . . . maintaining a behavior for a long period of time? period of time?