Explain Thorndike’s law of effect
if a stimulus followed by response results in reward, stimulus is more likely to elicit a response in the future
eg. cat pressing lever to get food
What are the similarities and differences between classical conditioning and operant conditioning
similarities:
both are part of behaviourism, forms of associative learning, based on stimulus response relationships
differences: classical conditioning is automatic behaviour, operant conditioning is voluntary behaviour
What is a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule?
when rewards are given at the same rate, number of occurences of behaviour determines reward given.
reward given after every 2 occurences of behaviour. Rat get food after pressing button twice
What is a fixed interval reinforcement schedule?
reward is given consistently based on time intervals. eg. rat is given food every 2 minutes
What is a variable ratio reinforcement schedule
reward is randomly given based on random number of occurrences
What is a variable interval reinforcement schedule
reward is given at random time intervals
What reinforcement schedule produces more consistent responding? Why?
Variable schedule compared to fixed schedule. Bcuz reinforcement is unpredictable, the test subject will just keep responding in hopes of getting the reward
What is learning?
a process that results in a change in behaviour or thought based on experience (from receiving info from environment)
only observable thru behaviour
What is habituation?
the decline in response (behaviour change) to a repeated presentation of a stimulus. Example: a rat initially getting scared by a loud bang gets used to it after awhile
Define Pavolv’s Classical conditioning, describe it and give an example
process by which an organism learns to respond to a neutral stimulus that has been paired with another stimulus that elicits an automatic response.
is a part of behaviourism
is a form of associative learning (if something happens.. then this will happen)
dog metronome, meat powder, salivate
Describe the phases of Classical conditioning
- Acquisiton: learning the conditioned response (associating metronome with meat powder)
- Extinction: Conditioned Response fades then disappears if Conditioned Stimulus is presented without Unconditioned stimulus (if there is metronome but no meat powder given)
- Spontaneous recovery: extinct Conditioned Response may reappear if Conditioned Stimulus is presented again after a break (if start giving meat powder with metronome)
What is latent inhibition and how is it related to classical conditioning
when previous exposure to a neutral stimulus prevents it from becoming a conditioned stimulus
this makes the acquisition process (phase 1) of classical conditioning difficult and takes longer to establish r/ship / association)
Define operant conditioning
a type of learning in which voluntary behaviour is influenced by the consequences that follow it
What are the 2 schedules of reinforcement? Describe them.
Continuous schedule:
every occurence of behaviour is rewarded
Partial/ intermittent schedule:
only some occurences are rewarded
What is human superstition?
behaviour is more likely to occur when reinforcement is random or unpredictable eg. gambling, unlikely to actually win money
Briefly describe Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment and why it was
evidence of observational learning
child observed an adult exhibiting aggressive behaviour towards a doll, child started to imitate it & do even worse than the adult did
Describe conditioned taste aversion, and provide 2 reasons it does not follow the usual rules of classical conditioning
when you eat a specific food, you feel nauseous. In the future, you dont want to eat the food again or you feel nauseous when you eat it.
it doesnt repeatedly occur before unconditioned stimulus, follows just one negative experience
Explain the concept of preparedness and its relation to phobias
Some people are predisposed to fear certain stimuli more or faster than others. People learn fear by observing others
eg. baby scared of cliff depending on how their parent react
Define latent learning and explain why it challenges the typical behaviourist view of learning
learning that is not directly observable. Behaviourism looks at ones performance.
competence (what we know) does not equate to performance (showing what we know)
Briefly describe the 2 experiments involving rats and explain why they
support latent learning
- reinforcement is not necessary for learning
Rats in a maze experiment:
3 groups of rats. 1st group alw reinforced, 2nd group reinforced halfway, 3rd group never reinforced
rats that didnt receive reinforcement still showed learning - performance is not necessary for learning
1st group rats navigate thru a maze by themselves
2nd group rats are pulled in a trolley thru a maze. Rats in 2nd group learnt how to go thru the maze without actually performing or having behaviour reinforced
What is shaping?
building a complex behaviour or skill.
start from basic elements and work your way up
eg. start by training dogs simple tricks, then slowly try harder tricks. Use treats as a positive reinforcement
What conditions should
be met for acquisition to be successful?
Describe observational learning/ Bandura’s social learning theory and benefits
learning by watching others
adaptation as a species: no need to endanger oneself thru trial and error
What impact does biology have on learning?
influences nature and one’s speed of learning
some people are more susceptible or predisposed to learning S-R relationships faster or easier than others
