Ch 6: Learning

delay discounting

decrease in reinforcer's value as a function of time one has to wait for it

ratio strain

disruption of responding that occurs when a fixed proportion response requirement is increased too rapidly

fixed-interval scallop

gradually increasing rate of responding that occurs between successive reinforcements on a specific schedule

cumulative record

graphical representation of how a response is repeated over time

ratio run

high and invariant rate of responding observed after the post-reinforcement pause on FR schedules

inter-response time (IRT)

interval between one reward and the next

Undermatching

less sensitivity to the relative rate of reinforcement than predicted by the comparable rate

melioration

mechanism for achieving matching by responding to improve local rates of reinforcement for response alternatives

post-reinforcement pause

period of no responding after delivery of positive consequences on FR and FI schedules

schedule of reinforcement

program requirements that determine delivery of the supporting stimulus

concurrent-chain schedule of reinforcement

program where participants choose during the first link which programs will be in effect subsequently

interval schedule

reinforcement in which a certain amount of time is required to set up the reinforcer

fixed-ratio schedule

reinforcement in which a response is reinforced after a specific number of responses

fixed-interval schedule

reinforcement in which the first response is rewarded after a specific amount of time

variable-ratio schedule

reinforcement in which the number of responses necessary to produce reinforcement changes between trials

variable-interval schedule

reinforcement provided after a irregular amount of time from last reinforcer or start of trial

ratio schedule

reinforcement that depends only on the number of responses the participant performs

concurrent schedule

reinforcement where participants can choose one of two or more simple reinforcement programs available simultaneously

limited hold

restriction on how long reinforcement remains available

matching law

rule that relative response rates equal the relative reinforcement rates for that response

continuous reinforcement (CRF)

schedule in which every occurrence of the instrumental response produces the goal event

intermittent reinforcement

schedule in which only some of the occurrences of the instrumental response are supported