Briefly Describe the Four Main Schedules of Partial Reinforcement in Operant

question 148

Essay

Briefly describe the four main schedules of partial reinforcement in operant conditioning.

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Definitions:

Shaping

A method of teaching new behaviors by rewarding closer and closer approximations of the desired behavior until the target behavior is achieved.

Operant Conditioning

A conditioning technique that aims to modify behavior magnitude by employing reinforcement strategies or punishment tactics.

Extinction

In psychology, the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus.

Variable-Ratio Schedule

A reinforcement schedule where a response is reinforced after an unpredictable number of responses, making it very resistant to extinction.