Matthew Raney asks:
>Does anyone know if reinforcement schedules (i.e., continuous,
>fixed/variable-ratio/interval) also apply to punishment?
>
The only schedule of punishment that works is a continuous schedule.
Partial schedules inadvertantly end up as partial reinforcement schedules
for the target behavior because they create situations in which the target
behavior occurs and is _not_ punished (i.e., the behavior is sometimes
followed by the omission or avoidance of a punisher). This is why we
stress that when punishers are used to eliminate a behavior they must be
delivered consistently - every time the target behavior occurs. This is
one reason why the use of punishment is discouraged -- it is so hard to
administer an effective punishment schedule correctly.
Claudia
________________________________________________________
Claudia J. Stanny, Ph.D. e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Department of Psychology Phone: (850) 474 - 3163
University of West Florida FAX: (850) 857 - 6060
Pensacola, FL 32514 - 5751
Web: http://www.uwf.edu/psych/stanny.html
