What is the the Conditional Stimulus, Unconditional Stimulus and the Conditional response in the following?

Assessment Reinforcement plays a vital role in learning new tasks. The purpose of this experiment was to train a computerised rat 'Sniffy' to press a bar to receive food. The aim of this experience was to accelerate this learning process by using operant learning reinforcement techniques such as shaping as designed by B. F. Skinner (ref). The shaping plan is aimed to reinforce successive approximations of the targeted behaviour: pressing the bar unassisted (Alloway, 2012). Shaping involves reinforcing gradual steps towards the desired behaviour, gradually moving closer to the target behaviour (Alloway, 2012). Reinforcement is only given whenever the required behaviour is displayed and is provided without delay. Shaping is successful because behaviour exhibits variability.

According to the literature, it is recommended to provide rewards for modest acts that are likely to lead to the desired behaviour (Alloway, 2012). This is referred to as the first approximation and after time the behaviour is preformed more frequently (Alloway, 2012). Alloway (2012) states Sniffy will perform a new variant of the behaviour more similar to the targeted behaviour. This will become the second approximation and requires reinforcement. Each reinforcement strengthens the behaviour, so a continuous reinforcement schedule leads to rapid learning.

For the baseline, sniffy behaviour was watched for 5 minutes without intervention to determine if the unconditioned response of bar pressing is a low-probability behaviour and a frequent high-probability behaviour. Sniffy was reinforced at set intervals to learn the first approximation (Chance, 2013). Rearing up or facing the food hooper's back wall earned Sniffy a pellet of food. Sniffy was rewarded immediately after the intended behaviour to work.

Rewards that occur promptly after every instance of desirable behaviour are more effective shaping behaviour (Chance, 2013). After 15 or 20 reinforcements, Sniffy rears more often and a second approximation is introduced. A second approximation is variant closer to the target behaviour; in this case Sniffy is rewarded for standing up and pressing his feet against the back wall. A varied ratio accelerates lever-pressing learning. Sniffy only gets rewards for rearing up and contacting the back wall or bar presses (Chance, 2013). Studies show that intermittent reinforcement can make people persistent (Chance, 2013). The intention of this step is to shape and refine the behaviour.