topic 7

Question 1

explain the three-term contingency by Skinner

Answer 1

• known as the ABCs
• presence of a particular antecedent cue or signal (a stimulus), specific behaviour will be followed by a certain consequence

Question 2

Define antecedents and list the 4 subtypes

Answer 2

-antecedents: stimuli before a behaviour; may provide the context in which consequences may occur
1. overt antecedents: stimuli directly observable
2. covert: indirect; interal experiences
3. immediate: occur right before or overlap with behaviour
4. distant: stimuli (often covert) precede the behaviour by a long time

Question 3

define stimulus control and class

Answer 3

• control: extent in which the antecedent can influence performance of a specific behaviour
• class: related stimuli that have the same effect on behaviour

Question 4

explain stimulus discrimination training

Answer 4

• giving a certain consequence for a specific behaviour when a specific stimulus is present
• discriminative stimulus = behaviour is reinforced
• S-delta stimulus = behaviour is not reinforced

eg. pigeon given food when it pecks a red dot but not given food when peck at a blue dot

Question 5

explain stimulus generalization

define generalization gradient and stimulus equivalence

Answer 5

• occurs when a stimulus is similar to the SD and thus produces the same behaviour
• generalization gradient: stimuli most similar tot he Sd produces the strongest response
• stimulus equivalence: two or more different stimuli that can be used for the same purpose