Reinforcement Principles and Schedules Flashcards

Which term describes delivering reinforcement only when a behavior meets a specific quality standard?

Answer: Differential reinforcement

Differential reinforcement involves reinforcing responses that meet a criterion while withholding reinforcement for those that do not.

Sensory stimulation that a learner produces through their own behavior (e.g., hand-flapping that feels good) is classified as:

Answer: Automatic reinforcement

Automatic reinforcement occurs when the behavior itself produces the reinforcing stimulus without social mediation.

A previously neutral stimulus (a clicker) is paired with food until the clicker alone increases behavior. The clicker is now a:

Answer: Conditioned reinforcer

A conditioned reinforcer acquires its reinforcing value by being paired with an already-effective (unconditioned) reinforcer.

Which motivating operation (MO) makes a reinforcer more valuable and increases behavior that has produced that reinforcer?

Answer: Establishing operation

An establishing operation (EO) increases the reinforcing effectiveness of a stimulus and increases relevant behavior.

When a learner has had so much access to a reinforcer that it temporarily loses its effectiveness, this is called:

Answer: Satiation

Satiation occurs when a learner has received so much of a reinforcer that it temporarily loses its motivating value.

Which of the following is an example of a generalized conditioned reinforcer?

Answer: Money

Money is a generalized conditioned reinforcer because it has been paired with many other reinforcers and can purchase a wide variety of them.

Reinforcement provided after a behavior regardless of what the learner is doing is called:

Answer: Noncontingent reinforcement

Noncontingent reinforcement (NCR) delivers a reinforcer on a time-based schedule independent of any specific behavior.