positive or negative reinforcement examples

Riders apply pressure-by pulling the reins or squeezing their legs-and then remove the pressure when the horse performs the desired behavior, such as turning or speeding up. Negative reinforcement is also used frequently in horse training. The annoying sound stops when you exhibit the desired behavior, increasing the likelihood that you will buckle up in the future. For example, car manufacturers use the principles of negative reinforcement in their seatbelt systems, which go “beep, beep, beep” until you fasten your seatbelt. In negative reinforcement, an undesirable stimulus is removed to increase a behavior. The idea was that students would spend additional time studying the material to increase their chance of being reinforced the next time (Skinner, 1961). If students answered questions correctly, they received immediate positive reinforcement and could continue if they answered incorrectly, they did not receive any reinforcement. His teaching machine tested students’ knowledge as they worked through various school subjects. In fact, in addition to the Skinner box, he also invented what he called a teaching machine that was designed to reward small steps in learning (Skinner, 1961)-an early forerunner of computer-assisted learning. He was a strong proponent of using operant conditioning principles to influence students’ behavior at school. What do you think about this program? If Skinner were alive today, he would probably think this was a great idea. The result was a significant increase in reading comprehension (Fryer, 2010). Specifically, second-grade students in Dallas were paid $2 each time they read a book and passed a short quiz about the book. It has been found that one of the most effective ways to increase achievement in school districts with below-average reading scores was to pay the children to read. Positive reinforcement as a learning tool is extremely effective. Being praised for doing a good job and for passing a driver’s test is also a reward. Our paychecks are rewards, as are high grades and acceptance into our preferred school. Some people might say, “Why should I reward my child for doing what is expected?” But in fact we are constantly and consistently rewarded in our lives. Jerome quickly cleans his room because he wants a new art set. In positive reinforcement, a desirable stimulus is added to increase a behavior.įor example, you tell your five-year-old son, Jerome, that if he cleans his room, he will get a toy. The most effective way to teach a person or animal a new behavior is with positive reinforcement. A recorder counts the number of responses made by the animal. Speakers and lights can be associated with certain behaviors. A Skinner box contains a lever (for rats) or disk (for pigeons) that the animal can press or peck for a food reward via the dispenser. He placed these animals inside an operant conditioning chamber, which has come to be known as a “Skinner box” ( Figure 6.10). Working with Thorndike’s law of effect as his foundation, Skinner began conducting scientific experiments on animals (mainly rats and pigeons) to determine how organisms learn through operant conditioning (Skinner, 1938).

If we stop getting paid, we will likely stop showing up-even if we love our job. One of the reasons (and often the main reason) we show up for work is because we get paid to do so. An example of the law of effect is in employment. If an organism does something that does not bring about a desired result, the organism is less likely to do it again. Essentially, if an organism does something that brings about a desired result, the organism is more likely to do it again. According to the law of effect, behaviors that are followed by consequences that are satisfying to the organism are more likely to be repeated, and behaviors that are followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated (Thorndike, 1911). His idea that learning is the result of consequences is based on the law of effect, which was first proposed by psychologist Edward Thorndike. Skinner believed that behavior is motivated by the consequences we receive for the behavior: the reinforcements and punishments. He proposed a theory about how such behaviors come about. Skinner saw that classical conditioning is limited to existing behaviors that are reflexively elicited, and it doesn’t account for new behaviors such as riding a bike.

Positive or negative reinforcement examples