Final answer:
Effective conditioned reinforcers signal a close proximity to the delivery of a backup reinforcer, usually a primary reinforcer. Secondary reinforcers gain their power through consistent prediction of primary reinforcers, and various reinforcement schedules affect how behaviors are learned and maintained.
Step-by-step explanation:
The third principle of effective conditioned reinforcement states that effective conditioned reinforcers signal a large proximity to the delivery of a backup reinforcer. A backup reinforcer is often a primary reinforcer, which has innate reinforcing qualities like food, water, or shelter. Conditioned reinforcers, also known as secondary reinforcers, have no inherent value and only become reinforcing through their association with these primary reinforcers. Examples of secondary reinforcers include money, praise, and tokens. For a conditioned reinforcer to be effective, it must consistently predict the imminent delivery of a primary reinforcer. This close association strengthens the power of the conditioned reinforcer to maintain the desired behavior.
In operant conditioning, the reinforcement schedule can play a critical role in how quickly and robustly a behavior is learned. For example, with a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, a behavior is rewarded after a set number of responses, promoting a rapid response rate. Contrast this with a fixed interval reinforcement schedule, where behavior is rewarded after a set amount of time, typically resulting in a response pattern that increases as the time for the next reinforcement approaches.
The concept of higher-order conditioning further explains how a neutral stimulus can become a conditioned reinforcer through association with an already established conditioned stimulus. And when reinforcement is consistently delivered, as seen in continuous reinforcement, behavior is reinforced every time it occurs, leading to quick acquisition but also rapid extinction if the reinforcement stops.