Transcript Operant conditioning

Operant conditioning
Learning by consequences
Operant Conditioning
What is it?
Operant conditioning forms an
association between a behaviour and a
consequence.
A type of learning in which future
behaviour is determined by the
consequences of past
behaviour.
Ratatouille
Ratatouille is hungry
and performs various
exploratory behaviours
By chance he
presses the lever
I’ll do that
again
A pellet of food
appears!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fanm-WyQJo&feature=related
Thorndike’s Puzzle Boxes
• Put hungry cats into a ‘puzzle box’, food outside box
outside of reach
• Cat had to get out of box to get food.
• Trial and Error: solution is hit upon through trial and
error
• The more times a cat was put in the box, the faster
it got out (fewer trials)
• After 7 trials would go straight for lever and get out
immediately.
• Lever pushing now learnt, not random
Thorndike’s Law of effect
• a behavior that is followed by ‘satisfying’ consequences is strengthened
(more likely to occur) and a behavior that is followed by ‘annoying’
consequences is weakened (less likely to occur)
• Law of effect: If the effect of learning is good then the behavior will be
repeated.
Th6) page
Read pages 166 and 167.
Draw and label a and the findings.
Using Page 217
and the diagram
found on the
slide outline
what the ABC
Model of
Operant
Conditioning is.
Some definitions....
Reinforcement :
Positive
reinforcement :
Negative
reinforcement :
Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated
Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences
that are pleasant when they happen i.e. food for
Ratatouille
Anything which has the effect of increasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by removal of something
unpleasant.
Punishment :
Positive
punishment :
Negative
punishment :
Some
definitions....
Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences.
Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by using consequences
that are unpleasant.
Anything which has the effect of decreasing the likelihood
of the behaviour being repeated by taking something
pleasant away.
Primary and secondary
reinforcement
Primary reinforcers
Secondary reinforcers
Food when hungry
Money
Real world application
Using the Key Words from today’s lesson describe how operant conditioning can be
used in prison to promote good behaviour.
Now read page 218 how close was your description?
Operant Conditioning can be used to
shape behaviour
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•
The complete desired behaviour may not be exhibited immediately but non the less that behaviour must be
reinforced.
Shaping is:
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Rewarding moves towards the desired behaviour.
The waiting for an action that is nearer to the desired behaviour.
Finally, waiting for the actual behaviour before offering reinforcement.
Example: Skinner
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Language Acquisition Today
We will look at token economy next lesson.
Shaping and Language: Read Below and try an put
the events into the correct order.
These are reinforced not only by praise and attention but other positive reinforcers as a child who can say ‘bicci’ is more likely to get
one.
Initially babies make noises - called babbling – and these are positively reinforced by people around them by praise and attention.
According to Skinner (1957) children acquire language through operant conditioning.
This increases the likelihood that the infant will babble. Reinforces will be then more likely to occur if the babbling sounds like words,
so the infant is selectively rewarded for speech like sounds.
Sounds that are not appropriate are ignored and not reinforced and therefore not repeated.
Some aspects cannot be accounted for through operant conditioning. Children make persistent mistakes such as the word ‘runned’ for
which they have not been reinforced. This suggests they are using rules to guide speech.
The selective reinforcing of word like sounds continues, this is called shaping until the child produces actual words.