Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning
theory”
Prepared by : Nida_iub
Student of Islamia University
Bahawalpur
Of course, during that time period the methods for studying thoughts
weren’t as precise as they are now. Skinner called changes in
behavior “learning.” As a result, psychology textbook chapters on
learning cover mostly behavior.
What is Operant Conditioning?
“Operant conditioning is a term used to describe behavior
which has been reinforced by reward or discouraged
through punishment.”
For example, if a mother wants her daughter to clean her room than
she may give her some sweets every time, she cleans it.
Given enough time, the girl will start to clean her room more often
because she will get some sweets in return. As a result, the girl’s
behavior(cleaning her room) has been modified (conditioned)
because she learnt to associate that behavior with a reward.
In the words of Earnest R. Hilgard (1962) :
B. F Skinner :-
It was B. F. Skinner who is best known for operant conditioning, and
the device he invented to research is called the operant conditioning
apparatus, also known as Skinner’s box.
The rat was rewarded for each passing of lever so ultimately the rat
learned to press the lever as designed by the experiment.
With the help of such experiment, Skinner put forward his theory of
“Operant Conditioning”, for learning not only by simple responses
like pressing the lever but also for learning the most difficult and
complex series of responses.
1. Reinforcement:
A reinforcement is something which benefits the person receiving it,
and so results in an increase of a certain type of behavior.
i. positive reinforcement
ii. Negative reinforcement
Reinforcement schedules:-
In operant conditioning, schedules of reinforcement are an important
component of the learning process. Reinforcement and punishment
are provided on a schedule. When and how often we reinforce a
behavior can have a dramatic impact on the strength and rate of the
response. Certain schedules of reinforcement may be more effective
in specific situations.
There are two types of reinforcement schedules:
1. Continuous Reinforcement:-
In continuous reinforcement, the desired behavior is reinforced every
single time it occurs. Generally, this schedule is best used during the
initial stages of learning in order to create a strong association
between the behavior and the response. Once the response if firmly
attached, reinforcement is usually switched to a partial reinforcement
schedule.
2. Partial Reinforcement:-
In partial reinforcement, the response is reinforced only part of the
time. Learned behaviors are acquired more slowly with partial
reinforcement, but the response is more resistant to extinction. There
are four schedules of partial reinforcement:
(i)Fixed-ratio schedules :-
Fixed ratio schedules are those where a response is reinforced only
after a specified number of responses. This schedule produces a high,
steady rate of responding with only a brief pause after the delivery of
the reinforcement.
(ii)Variable-ratio schedules :-
Variable ratio schedules occur when a response is reinforced after an
unpredictable number of responses. This schedule creates a high
steady rate of responding. Gambling and lottery games are good
examples of a reward based on a variable ratio schedule.
(iii)Fixed-interval schedules :-
Fixed intervals schedules are those where the first response is
rewarded only after a specified amount of time has elapsed. This
schedule causes high amounts of responding near the end of the
interval, but much slower responding immediately after the delivery
of the reinforce.
(iv)Variable-interval schedules :-
Variable interval schedules occur when a response is rewarded after
an unpredictable amount of time has passed. This schedule produces
a slow, steady rate of response.
(iii) Chaining:-
Chaining means each preceding segment of behavior till the desired
response is fully achieved.
Every step in the desired direction should be reinforced.
Summary:-
Skinner used the term operant to refer to any "active behavior that
operates upon the environment to generate consequences" (1953). In
other words, Skinner's theory explained how we acquire the range of
learned behaviors we exhibit each and every day.