FR1 and FR2 schedule of reinforcement

Our Goal:
To continue to shape Peaches and to put Peaches on a fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement (FR1 and FR2).

A fixed ratio schedule is a reinforcement schedule in which a behavior is reinforced when it occurs a fixed number of times.  So for FR1 Peaches only had to hit the bar once in order to get reinforced, just like she did for shaping.  But for FR2 Peaches had to hit the bar twice in order to get a reinforcement.

Procedure:
Megan was the trainer today, the training session started at 8:36 A.M (FR1) and 8:52 A.M (FR2).  The FR1 session lasted 13 minutes and the FR2 session lasted 10 minutes and 36 seconds.  Peaches pressed the lever 89 times (FR1) and 95 times (FR2).  She got 4 reinforcers (FR1) and 0 reinforcers (FR2).

Results:
When Peaches was placed into the operant box she headed straight to the lever.  She was pressing the lever consistently with her head and paw, she was no longer biting the bar like she did during shaping.  She soon then began pressing the bar two times in a row, less than 5 minutes into the session she was at 31 presses.  Since Peaches was doing so well Megan and I decided to move her to an FR2 schedule.  We took her out of the operant box and set it up.  Once she was back in the box she once again went straight to the lever, she pressed the lever and looked for food, when she realized that nothing was there she immediately pressed the bar again.  She seemed to wander around the cage more, but after 2 minutes in the session she was pressing the lever two times in a row.  Within 6 minutes of the session she had 53 lever presses.

Peaches During FR2

Peaches was successfully shaped and completed two levels of fixed ratio schedule (FR1 and FR2).

FR1 Cumulative Record

FR2 Cumulative Record

Discussion:
Today was a very good training day, Peaches showed that she associated the sound of the magazine with food and had a strong bar sound association.  She broke her habit of biting the bar that she seemed to develop during shaping, now using her paw and head.  Even through out the day's session Peaches seemed to understand that if she used her paws more than her head she would be able to get her reinforcement more quickly.  Hopefully the two days off won't cause Peaches to take steps backwards.
She did an amazing job today, hopefully it continues successfully from here!