Question 1

Which of the following provides the most direct evidence for the existence of cognitive maps in animals?

Accepted Answer

Choice A provides the most direct evidence for the existence of cognitive maps in animals as it demonstrates that the rat is able to mentally navigate the maze and choose the longer yet only effective route when the direct path is blocked. This suggests that the rat has created a cognitive map of the maze in its mind, allowing it to plan and problem-solve in a spatial context. Choices B, C, and D do not necessarily provide direct evidence for cognitive maps as they can be explained by other factors such as olfactory or phonetic cues in the case of the police dog, trial and error learning in the case of the sea lion, and associative learning in the case of the coyote.

Question 2

receives the same 10 trials in which the shock is paired with the light,but they also receive 10 additional random trials in which the light is not followed by a shock.According to the expectancy model of classical conditioning,we would expect the tone to become a conditioned stimulus for fear for the rats:

Accepted Answer

According to the expectancy model, the consistent pairing of the light with the shock in Group 1 leads to a stronger association, making the light a conditioned stimulus for fear. In Group 2, the additional random trials weaken this association, reducing the likelihood of the light becoming a conditioned stimulus.

Question 3

Which of the following is most difficult to explain using the behavioural perspective of learning?

Accepted Answer

Latent learning refers to the acquisition of knowledge and skills without any visible reinforcement or motivation. It is difficult to explain using the behavioural perspective because it cannot be easily observed or measured without the learners' behavioural response. The behavioural perspective emphasizes the importance of reinforcement as a key factor in learning, and without reinforcement, learning may not occur or be observed.

Question 4

According to this perspective of operant conditioning,the best predictor of behaviour is the perceived contingency between a behaviour and its consequences.This is the ___________ perspective of operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

The cognitive perspective of operant conditioning emphasizes the role of mental processes and the individual's perception of the contingency between behaviors and their consequences. This contrasts with the traditional behaviorist view, which focuses more on observable behaviors and reinforcements without considering internal mental states.

Question 5

The fact that exposure to stimulating environments seems to slow down the declines in cognitive functioning that usually occur in late adulthood best demonstrates how ___________.

Accepted Answer

This is because the statement suggests that the cognitive decline in late adulthood can be influenced by exposure to stimulating environments, which is a form of learning. Hence, learning can influence biology in terms of delaying or slowing down cognitive decline.

Question 6

From a cognitive learning perspective,superstitious behaviour can best be explained in terms of:

Accepted Answer

Superstitious behavior occurs when individuals perceive a contingency between a behavior and a desirable outcome, even if no actual relationship exists. This is known as perceived contingency, and it can lead to the reinforcement of the behavior through positive reinforcement.

Question 7

Learning that occurs by watching the behaviour of a model is called ___________ learning.

Accepted Answer

Observational learning occurs when an individual observes the behavior of others and then imitates or learns from it. It is also known as social learning, which is typically done through watching someone's actions, retaining information on how to accomplish the task, and then replicating the same behavior.

Question 8

Which of the following has the highest adaptive significance for humans in terms of its ability to save time and effort and to reduce exposure to potentially dangerous trial-and-error processes?

Accepted Answer

Observational learning allows humans to acquire information and skills by simply observing others, without the need for trial-and-error processes. This saves time and effort and reduces exposure to potentially dangerous situations. Classical conditioning, higher order conditioning, and operant conditioning all involve trial-and-error processes and may not always lead to successful outcomes.

Question 9

In classical conditioning,the key factor is not how often the conditioned stimulus is paired with the unconditioned stimulus,but how well the conditioned stimulus predicts the appearance of the unconditioned stimulus.This is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, the key factor is the ability of the conditioned stimulus to predict the appearance of the unconditioned stimulus. This is referred to as expectancy. The frequency of pairing alone does not determine conditioning, but rather the ability of the conditioned stimulus to accurately predict the unconditioned stimulus. Choices A, C, and D are not relevant to this concept.

Question 10

When young animals are raised in "enriched" environments,they tend to have heavier brains with more dendrites and synapses and have higher concentrations of various neurotransmitters.Instances like these most clearly demonstrate how:

Accepted Answer

Learning experiences can alter biological structures and functions, such as increasing brain weight and the complexity of neural connections, demonstrating the impact of environmental enrichment on biological aspects of the brain.

Question 11

Rats and human patients experience pleasure when the hypothalamus is stimulated and will act as if they have just been ____________.

Accepted Answer

When the hypothalamus is stimulated, it results in a feeling of pleasure or reward, which makes this behavior more likely to be repeated or reinforced. This is why the rats and human patients would act as if they have just been reinforced. The other options (B, C, D) do not accurately describe the outcome of hypothalamic stimulation.

Question 12

A new skier who first watches and then copies his experienced friends is most likely making use of which learning strategy?

Accepted Answer

Observational learning involves watching and imitating others to acquire new skills or knowledge. In this scenario, the new skier is observing and copying the experienced skiers, which is an example of observational learning.

Question 13

Biological factors can influence learning as evidenced in the concepts of ___________________.

Accepted Answer

Preparedness theory suggests that people are biologically prepared to learn some things more easily than others due to evolutionary factors. For example, humans are easily able to learn to fear snakes or spiders (preparedness), whereas learning to fear flowers is more difficult (non-preparedness). Instinctual drift refers to the process by which trained behaviors eventually revert to innate, instinctual behaviors. Both of these concepts demonstrate the influence of biological factors on learning.

Question 14

Edward Tolman's research on how rats performed in mazes provided powerful evidence suggesting that:

Accepted Answer

Tolman's research suggested that the rats had cognitive maps of the maze, meaning they were able to create mental representations of the maze and use those representations to navigate it. This was evidence of latent learning and suggested that behavior could not be explained solely by standard behavioral learning principles. The rats did not appear to use insight in Tolman's studies, and there is no evidence in this question to support the idea that positive reinforcement produced better performance than negative reinforcement.

Question 15

The behavioural view of learning is both challenged and questioned by:

Accepted Answer

The concepts of insight and cognitive maps challenge the behavioural view of learning, as both involve the use of mental processes and problem-solving abilities that cannot be explained solely by conditioning and reinforcement. The other options are not directly related to challenging the behavioural view of learning.

Question 16

In explaining the effects of operant conditioning,which of the following is most likely to be emphasized by a cognitive psychologist?

Accepted Answer

Cognitive psychologists are interested in the mental processes involved in learning, such as attention, perception, and memory. Therefore, they are likely to emphasize the importance of awareness of contingencies - the understanding that certain behaviors lead to specific consequences. This understanding is necessary for effective operant conditioning to occur.

Question 17

Cognitive learning theorists believe that the most important factor in learning through classical conditioning is:

Accepted Answer

Cognitive learning theorists believe that classical conditioning is most effective when the conditioned stimulus reliably signals the arrival of the unconditioned stimulus. This is because the learner forms an association between the two stimuli, and if the association is reliable, the learner will be more likely to respond appropriately when the conditioned stimulus is presented in the future. Frequency of pairing, time delay, and order of presentation are also important factors, but they are considered secondary to the reliability of the association between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli.

Question 18

It is challenging for a traditional behaviourist,to explain this aspects of Tolman's latent learning research with rats:

Accepted Answer

Traditional behaviorists emphasize reinforcement as a key factor in learning, but Tolman's latent learning showed that rats could learn a maze without direct reinforcement, challenging this view.

Question 19

The expectancy model was discussed in the context of classical conditioning and it asserted that the key factor in learning is how well the ___________.

Accepted Answer

The expectancy model asserts that the key factor in learning is how well the conditioned stimulus predicts the unconditioned stimulus, which is represented by choice A.

Question 20

Edward Tolman's research demonstrating that rats in a maze appeared to develop cognitive maps of the maze without receiving any reinforcement provided evidence most supportive of the concept of:

Accepted Answer

Edward Tolman's research demonstrated that rats in a maze developed cognitive maps of the maze without receiving any reinforcement. This provided evidence for the concept of latent learning, which suggests that learning can occur without any observable reinforcement. The other options (preparedness, insight, and observational learning) are not directly related to Tolman's research on cognitive maps and latent learning.

Quiz 7: Learning and Adaptation: the Role of Experience