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Learning: Principles and Applications, 4/e
Stephen B Klein, Mississippi State University

Principles And Applications Of Appetitive Conditioning

Glossary


compound schedule  A complex contingency where two or more schedules of reinforcement are combined.
contingency  The specified relationship between a specific behavior and reinforcement.
contingency management  The use of contingent reinforcement and nonreinforcement to increase the frequency of appropriate behavior and eliminate inappropriate behaviors.
depression effect  An effect in which a shift from high to low reward magnitude produces a lower level of responding than if the reward magnitude had always been low.
differential reinforcement of high responding (DRH) schedule  A schedule of reinforcement in which a specific high number of responses must occur with a specified time in order for reinforcement to occur.
differential reinforcement of low responding (DRL) schedule  A schedule of reinforcement in which a certain amount of time must elapse without responding, with reinforcement following the first response after the interval.
differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO)  A schedule of reinforcement in which the absence of a specific response within a specified time leads to reinforcement.
differential reinforcement schedule  A schedule of reinforcement in which a specific number of behaviors must occur within a specified time in order for reinforcement to occur.
elation effect  An effect in which a shift from low to high reward magnitude produces a greater level of responding than if the reward magnitude had always been high.
extinction  The elimination or suppression of a response caused by the discontinuation of reinforcement or the removal of the unconditioned stimulus.
fixed-interval schedule (FI)  A contingency in which reinforcement is available only after a specified period of time, and the first response emitted after the interval has elapsed is reinforced.
fixed-ratio schedule (FR)  A contingency in which a specific number of responses is needed to produce reinforcement.
instrumental conditioning procedure  A conditioning procedure in which the environment constrains the opportunity for reward and a specific behavior can obtain reward.
interval schedule of reinforcement  A contingency that specifies that reinforcement becomes available at a certain period of time after the last reinforcement.
negative contrast effect  An effect in which a shift from high to low reward magnitude produces a lower level of responding than if the reward magnitude had always been low.
negative reinforcer  The termination of an aversive event, which reinforces the behavior that terminated the aversive event.
operant chamber  An apparatus that creates an enclosed environment, used for the study of operant behavior within it.
operant conditioning  When a specific response produces reinforcement, and the frequency of the response determines the amount of reinforcement obtained.
partial reinforcement effect (PRE)  The greater resistance to extinction of an instrumental or operant response following intermittent rather than continuous reinforcement during acquisition.
positive contrast effect  An effect in which a shift from low to high reward magnitude produces a greater level of responding than if the reward magnitude had always been high.
positive reinforcer  An event whose occurrence increases the frequency of the behavior that precedes it.
postreinforcement pause  A cessation of behavior following reinforcement on a ratio schedule, which is followed by resumption of responding at the intensity characteristic of that ratio schedule.
primary reinforcer  An activity whose reinforcing properties are innate.
ratio schedule of reinforcement  A contingency that specifies that a certain number of behaviors are necessary to produce reinforcement.
reinforcer  An event (or termination of an event) that increases the frequency of the behavior that preceded it.
scallop effect  A pattern of behavior characteristic of a fixed-interval schedule, where responding stops after reinforcement and then slowly increases as the time approaches when reinforcement will be available.
schedule of reinforcement  A contingency that specifies how often or when we must act to receive reinforcement.
secondary reinforcer  An activity that has developed its reinforcing properties through its association with primary reinforcers.
shaping  A technique of acquiring a desired behavior by first selecting a highly occurring operant behavior, then slowly changing the contingency until the desired behavior is learned.
spontaneous recovery  The return of a CR when an interval intervenes between extinction and testing without additional CS-UCS pairings, or when the instrumental or operant response returns without additional reinforced experience.
successive approximation procedure  A technique for acquiring a desired behavior by first selecting a behavior with a high operant rate, then slowly changing the contingency until the desired behavior is learned.
variable-interval schedule (VI)  A contingency in which there is an average interval of time between available reinforcements, but the interval varies from one reinforcement to the next contingency.
variable-ratio schedule (VR)  A contingency in which an average number of behaviors produces reinforcement, but the actual number of responses required to produce reinforcement varies over the course of training.