Sorry to beat a dead horse, but I just looked at the only three behavioral analysis texts I have (2 from 1979 and 1 from 1993) and all three define a "negative reinforcer" as an aversive stimulus - one's whose removal following a response reinforces the behavior. Interestingly, they also use the word "escape" where most of us would use the term "negative reinforcement." Maybe its a difference between those trained specially in behavioral analysis and those of us training in other specialties.
Mike ----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Smith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, November 03, 2003 1:35 PM Subject: Re: apparition > Michael Caruso wrote: > > > I agree that using the term "negative reinforcer" in this way would be > > confising to students. When I was instructing part-time in grad school, > the > > text I was given used the term negative reinforcer in this way. I didn't > > use that term in class, and I assume that most intro texts dropped using > > that term because it would make a difficult concept (negative > reinforcement) > > even more difficult for the novice to understand. I'm just pointing out > > that I don't think his graphics are technically incorrect. I do however > > think there are much better ways to try to explain the ideas to intro > > students. > > Hmm. Again, I'm no expert, but I do think that the graphics are > technically incorrect, and I suspect that the book that you were given to > teach from in grad school was as well. > > As others have pointed out, there seems to be general agreement that > "reinforcement" always involves increases in the probability of the behavior > (in fact, that "reinforcement" is defined that way). The use of "negative > reinforcer" as a synonym (or near synonym) for punishment runs directly > counter to that. I'd be interested in seeing a general definition of > "reinforcement" in that text that you were given - I'd imagine it would have > to be pretty convoluted, in particular because at least at times > "reinforcement" would be the _opposite_ of what you got from the use of a > "reinforcer". <insert icon with extremely curious and confused look here> > > > Paul Smith > Alverno College > Milwaukee > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
