Chapter+12+Discrimination+Training+ANSWERS

** Discrimination Training ** ** ANSWERS **
 * Chapter 12 **


 * REVIEW:** Please write the definition for **discrimination training**.


 * ANSWER:**
 * Discrimination Training –** Reinforcing or punishing a response in the presence of one stimulus and extinguishing it or allowing it to recover in the presence of another stimulus.


 * 1.** Discrimination training based on reinforcement versus discrimination training based on escape.
 * a.** Compare and contrast


 * ANSWER:**
 * Similarities:**
 * Both include the reinforcement of behavior in the presence of the S D and an extinction procedure in the presence of the S** Δ **** . **
 * Crucial Difference:**
 * Discrimination training based on reinforcement- a reinforcer is presented in the presence of the S D and is withheld in the presence of the S** Δ **.
 * Discrimination training based on escape- an aversive condition is removed in the presence of the S D and remains in the presence of the S** Δ **.


 * b.** Illustrate this relationship using a pair of examples from the Skinner box.




 * c.** Using the preceding examples, please discuss the relationship between discrimination based on reinforcement and discrimination based on escape.


 * ANSWER:**
 * Similarities:**
 * Both contingencies reinforce the lever press in the presence of the S D.
 * Crucial Differences:**
 * In the example of discrimination based on reinforcement, the water (which is the reinforcer) was presented contingent upon the lever press in the presence of the S D while in the presence of the S ** Δ **, the water was not presented immediately after the lever press.
 * However, in the example of discrimination based on escape, the shock (or aversive condition) was removed contingent upon the lever press in the presence of the S D while it remained in effect in the presence of the S ** Δ ** ** . **


 * 2.** Discrimination training based on reinforcement versus discrimination based on punishment.
 * a**.Compare and contrast


 * ANSWER:**
 * Similarities:**
 * Both include the presentation of a stimulus, event, or condition contingent upon the response in the presence of the S D while that stimulus, event, or condition is withheld in the presence of the S ** Δ **
 * Crucial Difference:**
 * Discrimination based on reinforcement- the presentation of a **//reinforcer//** follows the response in the presence of the S D and is withheld in the presence of theS ** Δ **.
 * Discrimination based on punishment- it is the presentation of an **//aversive condition//** that immediately follows the response in the presence of the S D and that is withheld in the presence of the S ** Δ **.


 * b.** Illustrate this relationship using a pair of examples from the Skinner box.
 * ANSWER:**
 * c.** Using the preceding examples, please discuss the relationship between discrimination based on reinforcement and discrimination based on punishment.


 * ANSWER:**
 * Similarities****:**
 * Both contingencies present a stimulus in the presence of the S D, and withhold the stimulus in the presence of the S ** Δ. **
 * Crucial Differences:**
 * With discrimination based on reinforcement, water (a **//reinforcer//**) is presented contingent upon the lever press in the presence of the S D and is withheld in the presence of the S ** Δ **.
 * In contrast, with discrimination based on punishment, the shock (**//aversive condition//**) is presented contingent upon the lever press in the presence of the S D and is withheld in the presence of the S ** Δ **


 * 3.** Discriminative stimulus (S D ) versus the before condition.
 * a.** Be able to construct, describe, and explain the following table illustrating the differences between these two concepts.

||
 * || **Before** || **S D **
 * **Occurs** || Before the response ||= Before the response ||
 * **Effects** || Increase response frequency ||= Increase response frequency ||
 * **Make after condition more reinforcing** || Yes || No ||
 * **Increase likelihood of reinforcement** || No || Yes ||


 * b.** Provide an example of discriminated escape from the Skinner box.
 * ANSWER:**


 * c.** Using the example yo have just provided, please describe the similarities and differences between the before condition and the S D.
 * ANSWER:**
 * Similarities:**
 * Both the before condition of “Shock” and the S D of “Light on” occur before the lever press and do increase its occurrence.
 * Crucial Differences:**
 * The presence of the shock before the lever press actually makes the removal of the shock immediately reinforcing after the response occurs.
 * In contrast, it is the presence of the light that increases the likelihood of reinforcement.


 * d.** Occasionally, some behavior analysts simply refer to all stimulus conditions that exist before the response as **antecedent stimuli**. What is the official POB position on using this terminology?
 * ANSWER:**
 * //Antecedent// stimuli is too broad a term to effectively describe the various types of stimuli that are present before a response.
 * Stimuli present before a response is emitted can serve different **functions**.
 * Therefore, it is more efficient to refer to these stimuli as either the “Before Condition” or “Discriminative Stimulus” based upon their effects on the response.


 * 4.** A discriminated vs. an undiscriminated contingency.
 * a.** Compare and contrast


 * Similarities:**
 * Both contain a "before-response-outcome" contingency within them.
 * Crucial Differences:**
 * Undiscriminated contingency- the outcome for a response will be delivered NO MATTER WHAT THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE surrounding the response.
 * Discriminated contingencies- the outcome for a response will only be delivered WHEN SPECIFIC ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ARE PRESENT.


 * b.** What is the common confusion with respect to these two types of contingencies.

(That is why POB speaks about an “S ** Δ ** test” – it helps you to determine whether the absence of the specific environmental conditions surrounding a response really do affect the availability of the outcome)
 * ANSWER:**
 * The common confusion that most people have when dealing with these two types of contingencies is that they erroneously believe that there is always an S D and therefore all contingencies are discriminated.
 * The truth is that the environmental conditions surrounding the performance of a response DO NOT always affect the availability of the outcome for that response.


 * c.** Please provide two everyday examples, one of discriminated contingency and one of an undiscriminated contingency to illustrate the differences between these two types of contingencies.
 * ANSWER:**


 * d.** Using the examples that you have provided, please compare and contrast discriminated and undiscriminated contingencies.


 * ANSWER:** //(First of all, to provide a little background on the contingencies used in this example, the undiscriminated contingency applies to an adult who doesn’t have to answer to his or her mother as to how much candy they can have. The discriminated contingency applies to little Johnny whose mother doesn’t want him to eat sweets because it will rot his teeth.)//


 * Similarities:**
 * In both contingencies, the response of unwrapping the candy has potential to be reinforced with having the piece of candy in hand.
 * Crucial Differences:**
 * Undiscriminated contingency- the response will be reinforced in **ALL** environmental conditions (whether the light is on or off, whether the wrapper is made of foil or plastic, and if Mom is present of not.)
 * Discriminated contingency- Mom's presence affects the availability of the reinforcing outcome of having the piece of candy in hand. Only if Johnny performs the response when Mom is NOT present will his behavior be reinforced. Reinforcement will only be given for unwrapping the candy under **SPECIFIC** environmental conditions.


 * 5.**PB speaks about the "Operandum test" (Does the S D differ from the operandum).
 * a.** What is the purpose of this test?

//(Of course, the operandum can function as an S D in the presence of which, for instance, downward movement of the paws will be reinforced; because it is possible to make the lever pressing movements in the absence of the lever. But that’s a level of subtlety that probably would cause more confusion than help. We just wanted to include that scenario here to let you, the reader, know that it hasn’t escaped our attention.)//
 * ANSWER:**
 * The purpose of the operandum test is to help the student distinguish between the environmental conditions that affect the availability of reinforcement or punishment (the S D and the S ** Δ ** ) and that part of the environment that the organism manipulates in order to perform the response.

//*Operandum: Accelerator//
 * b.**Please provide an example from everyday life that includes a discriminated contingency in which there is an operandum that is distinct from the S D.
 * ANSWER:**


 * c.**Using the example that you've just provided, please explain how the operandum is NOT the S D.

//(Phew, that was a long-winded explanation to a simple question, when all that we are looking for is that you have the ability to distinguish between two different kinds of stimuli (that have different functions). But you have to be able explain to your students the reason behind the distinction in case they get confused, so practice saying this because you may need this response in your repertoire someday.)//
 * ANSWER:**
 * The accelerator is the part of the environment that the person is manipulating in order to perform the response (**the operandum**) without it the response **cannot** really be carried out.
 * It is NOT the **specific** part of the environment that affects whether the accelerator response will be reinforced with actual acceleration. It is the presence of a running car that determines whether reinforcement will occur. Without a car that is running and in gear, pressing the accelerator will not produce any acceleration.

As always, this example can be compared to the rat in the Skinner box if students ever get confused: (The S ** Δ ** for the rat's pressing the lever is not "not in Skinner box" because the lever press response could not be performed if the rat were not in the box. And we know that the operandum must be present in both the S D and the S ** Δ ** . Therefore, since the S ** Δ ** in the rat example is not "not in box," the S ** Δ ** in the car example is not "not in car.")