Question

Define operant conditioning. Discuss the factors that influence the course of operant conditioning.

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is the application of consequences to actions in an attempt to change the actions of the subject of the conditioning.  This is commonly known as the concept behind "positive reinforcement" or "negative reinforcement".

The factors that influence the course of operant conditioning are:

• Positive Reinforcement to increase the likelihood of a behavior by rewarding the behavior after it has occurred;

• Negative Reinforcement to increase the likelihood of a behavior by removing a negative stimulus after the behavior has occured, or by the behavior itself avoiding a negative stimulus;

• Positive Punishment to decrease the likelihood of a behavior by adding a negative stimulus after the behavior has occurred; or

• Negative Punishment to decrease the likelihood of a behavior by removing a reward after the behavior has occurred.

Answer 2

Answer:

Operant conditioning refers to the conditioning of behaviours and responses that are under the control of animals and human beings

and are emitted voluntarily by them. The behaviour is learned, maintained or changed through its consequences called reinforcers.

These refer to a stimulus or event that increases the probability of the occurrence of the response. The factors that influence the

course of operant conditioning are as follows:

 Type of reinforcements - Positive reinforcement involves pleasant consequences that satisfy needs. Negative reinforcement involves

unpleasant and painful consequences that lead to learning of avoidance.

 Number and quality of reinforcements - The course of operant conditioning is accelerated by increase in number, amount and quality of

reinforcements.

 Schedule of reinforcement - Continuous reinforcement elicits a desired response every time during a trial. Intermittent reinforcement

elicits responses only intermittently.