Purchase Solution

Psychology of Learning: Operant Conditioning

Not what you're looking for?

Ask Custom Question

There are four different reinforcement schedules that are used in operant conditioning. Describe each of the schedules and provide an example of each that impacts you. Also, please explain why a variable ratio of reinforcement is more powerful than a fixed ratio.

Purchase this Solution
Solution Summary

This solution describes the four schedules of reinforcement in operant conditioning.

Solution Preview

*There are four different reinforcement schedules that are used in operant conditioning. Describe each of the schedules and provide an example of each that impacts you. Also, please explain why a variable ratio of reinforcement is more powerful than a fixed ratio.

Reinforcement is a consequence that increases the likelihood that a behavior will occur again, and is used to demonstrate how operant conditioning affects behavior. There are two primary schedules in reinforcement: continuous and partial. Based on continuous reinforcement, each and every target behavior is reinforced that results in rapid learning of a behavior. Partial reinforcement behaviors are reinforced only some of the time that they occur. Once a behavior is learned, a partial reinforcement schedule is more effective in maintaining the behavior over time. Partial reinforcement is associated with four specific schedules: fixed ratio schedule, fixed interval schedule, variable ...

Purchase this Solution
Free BrainMass Quizzes
Brain and behaviour

Reviews areas of the brain involved in specific behaviours. This information is important for introductory psychology courses.

Controversies in Developmental Psychology

This quiz addresses controversies in developmental psychology.

Common Characteristics of Qualitative Methods

This quiz evaluates the common characteristics seen in qualitative methodology.

Can you name these types of cognitive distortions?

In each mini-scenario, can you identify the type of cognitive distortion being displayed? All of us are subject to cognitive errors, biases, and distortions throughout our daily lives.

Developmental Psychology

This quiz explores the concepts, theories and key terminology associated with human psychological development.

View More Free Quizzes
Related BrainMass Solutions

  • Operant psychology shaping procedures & learning language as a toddler

    501399 Operant psychology shaping procedures & learning language as a toddler Why would learning language as a toddler be difficult to explain through the application of operant psychology shaping procedures?

  • Child Psychology Notes

    Operant conditioning 10. psychometric, Piagetan 18. Operant conditioning.

  • A Comparison of Learning and Performance

    The most popular theories of conditioning related to learning were introduced by Ivan Pavlov. Pavlov theories include two forms of conditioning: classical and operant conditioning.

  • Approaches to Learning

    Describe your selected learning situation An example of operant conditioning in a selected learning situation would be that of behavior modification for drug use.

  • Principle of Operant Conditioning

    Since the 1960s, however, behaviorism has taken a back seat to cognitive theories of learning, although few dispute the elementary tenets of operant conditioning and their use in the acquisition of rudimentary adaptive behaviors.

  • Operant and classical conditioning

    97086 General Psychology - Define Learning, Classical and Operant Conditioning 1.

  • Principles of Conditioning

    Psychology of Women's Quarterly, 19 (2), 161-179. This solution discusses the principles of classical and operant conditioning.

  • The Behaviourist Approach to Psychology

    The major area of explanation is that of learning (for example operant and classical conditioning, these are the key learning processes). The discoveries concerning the laws of learning have been applied to many aspects of behaviour such as; 1.

  • Summary of Skinner's Research

    He helped pave the theory of operant conditioning which is defined as the modification of behavior by making the presence or absence of rewards or punishment contingent on behavior. This is also called instrumental learning.

  • Comparing and contrasting operant and classical conditioning

    between classical and operant conditioning as it peratins to the field of psychology.

View More Related Solutions