Reinforcement 1
T or F: If you have reinforced a behavior, it means the behavior must be decreasing.
FALSE. If you have reinforced a behavior, you have INCREASED the likelihood of it occurring in the future.
T or F: Positive punishment means you have added a stimulus.
T: Positive means the addition of a stimulus.
T or F: An example of a variable ratio of reinforcement is gambling on a slot machine.
True. Variable ratio means that the schedule of reinforcement is based on an average (e.g., on average every 7 responses) and the actor does not know when the reinforcement will next occur.
T or F: Reinforcement means you give someone something.
False. Reinforcement means the behavior is increasing as a result of the consequence delivered.
T or F: If you have punished a behavior, it means the behavior must be decreasing.
TRUE. Punishment means the consequence delivered has DECREASED the future likelihood of the behavior.
This type of reinforcement means you have added a stimulus, leading to an increase in future likelihood of the behavior.
Positive reinforcement.
T or F: Negative punishment means you have removed a stimulus and the behavior increased as a result.
False: Negative punishment means you have removed a stimulus and the behavior DECREASED.
T or F: A variable ratio of reinforcement means the reinforcement is provided on a consistent schedule of a certain number of responses.
FALSE. A fixed ratio means the ratio of responses to reinforcement is 'fixed', or consistent. E.g., a FR1 means for every 1 response, reinforcement is provided. A variable ratio means that the ratio of responses to reinforcement 'varies' and is not predictable for the learner.
Joan's teacher gives her a sticker every time she completes her homework. As a result, she increases her homework completion the following week. This reinforcement procedure is called:
Positive reinforcement. Joan is given a stimulus (sticker) which increases (reinforces) the behavior of homework completion.
This type of punishment means you have removed a stimulus, leading to a decrease in the behavior.
Negative punishment.
This type of reinforcement means you have removed a stimulus, leading to an increase in future likelihood of a behavior.
Negative reinforcement.
T or F: Punishment is when you want a behavior to stop.
False. Punishment and reinforcement have nothing to do with intent. Punishment is determined by whether the behavior decreases as a result of the consequence delivered. You can 'accidentally' punish or reinforce a behavior.
T or F: Variable ratios are often used when a learner is first being taught a skill.
False. Fixed ratios (often FR1) are often used for new skills so that the learner is reinforced every time they demonstrate the skill. This is often faded over time to mirror a more natural reinforcement schedule. Variable ratios are often used to maintain a taught/learned skill.
When Joe screams in the shopping cart for a cookie, his mom gives him an oreo. The next time he goes to the store and sees the cookie aisle, he screams even more for a cookie. The procedure described is called:
Positive reinforcement. Joe's mom has positively reinforced the behavior by adding a stimulus (cookie) that increased the behavior (screaming).
Provide an example of positive punishment.
N/A
Every time Johnny does his homework, his mom removes a chore he is expected to do from his chore chart. This does not increase his homework completion. This procedure is called:
A.) Negative reinforcement
B.) Positive reinforcement
C.) None of the above
C.) None of the above. The last sentence notes 'this does NOT increase homework completion'. If it did not result in behavior change, it is neither reinforcement or punishment.
When Samantha scratches her nose, the feeling of itchiness goes away. When her nose is itchy in the future, she is more likely to scratch it for relief. This procedure is called:
Negative reinforcement. The removal of an aversive stimulus (itchiness) which has increased the behavior of scratching an itch.
Every second time Mary asks for her iPad, her mom gives her some screen time. This schedule of reinforcement is called:
Fixed ratio 2 (FR2).
Sammy has a sunburn. He applies aloe vera gel to try to ease the pain. He is allergic to aloe vera and it begins to burn. He does not use aloe vera gel on a sunburn ever again. The procedure described is called:
Positive punishment. The addition of a stimulus (aloe vera/burning) decreases the future likelihood of the behavior (applying the aloe vera on a sunburn in the future).
Every time Johnny throws his toys, his mom removes his toy cars. This decreases his behavior of throwing his toys. This procedure is called:
Negative punishment. Negative (removes toys) punishment (decreases behavior of throwing).
Every time Samantha gets an A on a test, her professor says she does not have to do the homework that week. This procedure is called:
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Positive punishment
C) Negative reinforcement
D) Not enough information
D) Not enough information. There is no information on whether Samantha's behavior of getting an A has increased or decreased. Behavior change must occur as a result of the consequence for it to be considered a reinforcer (increases behavior) or punisher (decreases behavior).
When Sally throws her cheerios on the floor, her mom makes her pick them up. This decreases her cheerio throwing in the future. This procedure is called:
A) Positive punishment
B) Positive reinforcement
C) Negative punishment
D) Not enough information
A) Positive punishment. We know this because Sally's behavior of throwing cheerios decreases (punishment) following the addition of the consequence her mom has provided (cleaning up demand).
Approximately every 3rd time Mario asks his mom to go to the park, on average, she says yes and takes him. The schedule of reinforcement described is:
Variable ratio 3 (VR3).
Every time someone in the class gets an A on the test, the professor says they do not need to complete the homework for the following week. As the semester goes on, Sally studies hard and she gets more and more As on tests. The procedure described above is called:
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Positive punishment
C) Negative reinforcement
D) Not enough information
C Negative Reinforcement. We know this because Sally's behavior increases (getting As) following the removal of a stimulus (homework).
When Sally throws her cheerios on the floor, her mom makes her pick them up. This procedure is called:
A) Positive punishment
B) Positive reinforcement
C) Negative punishment
D) Not enough information
D) Not enough information. No information is provided on whether this results in Sally's behavior (of throwing cheerios) increasing or decreasing as a result of the consequence provided.