Question 1

Given the same frequency of reinforcement, ____ schedules generate higher rates of responding than do ____ schedules.

Accepted Answer

Ratio schedules, which require a certain number of responses to receive reinforcement, tend to generate higher rates of responding than interval schedules, which require a certain amount of time to elapse before reinforcement is available. Within each type of schedule, variable schedules tend to generate higher rates of responding than fixed schedules because the variable schedule is more unpredictable and therefore more motivating.

Question 2

Your employer gives merit wage increases at the same time each year. This is an example of which schedule of reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

This is an example of fixed-interval schedules as the reinforcement (wage increase) occurs at a fixed interval of time (each year). Fixed-ratio schedules involve reinforcement after a fixed number of responses, while variable-ratio schedules involve reinforcement after a variable number of responses. Variable-interval schedules involve reinforcement after varying intervals of time.

Question 3

The newest winning numbers in the state lottery are announced on the local television station every Saturday night, at the end of the news hour. People who are watching for the lottery numbers will have their "watching" reinforced on

Accepted Answer

The answer of The newest winning numbers in the state...

Question 4

Mary takes a course in which she is tested every two weeks. Her studying falls off right after a test, followed by a gradual increase to a rapid rate of studying as the next test approaches. Her studying conforms to the typical pattern of responding maintained on

Accepted Answer

Mary's studying pattern is based on a fixed time interval, where her behavior increases gradually during the interval and peaks just before the test at the end of the interval. This is a typical behavior observed under a fixed-interval schedule of reinforcement. In this schedule, reinforcement is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed, regardless of the amount of behavior emitted during that time interval. As the time for reinforcement approaches, behavior increases because the individual is motivated to receive the reinforcement. In this case, the reinforcement for Mary is likely getting good grades on her tests.

Question 5

A salesperson earns a commission for each item of clothing she sells. Commission on the clothing sales is an example of which type of reinforcement schedule?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A salesperson earns a commission for each...

Question 6

Marie works in a dress factory where she earns $10 for each three dresses she hems. Marie is paid on a

Accepted Answer

Marie is paid a fixed amount for a set number of tasks (hemming three dresses), which is characteristic of a fixed-ratio schedule.

Question 7

Maxwell runs a lawn care service and he charges his clients based on the square footage of their yard, rather than charging an hourly rate for his services. In this example, Maxwell is working on

Accepted Answer

A fixed-ratio schedule of reinforcement involves providing a reward or reinforcement after a set number of responses or behaviors. In this case, Maxwell is providing a service (mowing a lawn) and receiving payment based on the size of the lawn, which would be the fixed ratio. The more square footage of the lawn, the more payment he receives. This is different from a fixed-interval schedule (which involves providing reinforcement after a set amount of time has passed) and a variable ratio or interval schedule (which involve providing reinforcement after a variable number of responses or amount of time has passed respectively).

Question 8

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets. The rat is pressing the lever at a very high rate, and does not stop, even when a food pellet is delivered. In this example, the reinforcement schedule that is in place is MOST likely

Accepted Answer

The fact that the rat is pressing the lever at a very high rate and not stopping even when a food pellet is delivered suggests that the reinforcement schedule is based on the number of responses (lever presses) required before a food pellet is delivered, rather than the amount of time that has passed. Additionally, the fact that the rate of lever pressing is high suggests that the reinforcement schedule is a variable ratio schedule, meaning that the number of responses required before reinforcement is delivered varies randomly around an average number.

Question 9

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets. The rat is pressing the lever at a very high rate, but it takes a break from lever pressing each time a food pellet is delivered. In this example, the reinforcement schedule that is in place is MOST likely

Accepted Answer

In a fixed-ratio schedule, reinforcement is provided after a set number of responses. The rat presses the lever at a high rate because it knows a specific number of presses will yield a reward, and it takes a break after receiving the food pellet, indicating a fixed pattern of reinforcement.

Question 10

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets. The rat pauses for a long time after each food pellet is delivered, but slowly increases its rate of lever pressing as more time elapses. In this example, the reinforcement schedule that is in place is MOST likely

Accepted Answer

In a fixed-interval schedule, reinforcement is provided after a fixed amount of time has passed, leading to a pattern where the subject pauses after reinforcement and then gradually increases the response rate as the time for the next reinforcement approaches.

Question 11

A worker gets paid every Friday for completing his 40 hour work week. He is being paid on a ____ schedule.

Accepted Answer

The worker is being paid on a fixed-interval schedule because he is getting paid once a week for a fixed amount of work hours (40). The other options involve variable amounts or ratios, which do not apply in this scenario.

Question 12

Raul's parents make certain they thank Raul every time he clears the dishes from the table without being asked. Sadie's parents try to remember to thank Sadie every time she clears the table without being asked, but about half the time they forget. Based on principles of operant conditioning, you should predict that

Accepted Answer

Sadie's table clearing behavior is reinforced on a partial (or intermittent) reinforcement schedule, which typically leads to more resistance to extinction than a continuous reinforcement schedule, like the one Raul is experiencing.

Question 13

Shaquille is a professional basketball player. He never knows for sure which of his shots will result in a basket, but the more shots he takes the more baskets he makes. In this example, Shaquille's shooting is being reinforced on

Accepted Answer

Shaquille's shooting is being reinforced on a variable-ratio schedule, as he is not receiving reinforcement after a fixed number of shots, but rather after a random number of shots, which results in him taking more shots to increase his chances of making a basket.

Question 14

A worker receives $1.00 for every two units he assembles. He is being paid on a ____ schedule.

Accepted Answer

In a fixed-ratio schedule, reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses or actions. In this case, the worker is receiving $1.00 for every two units he assembles, which is a fixed ratio.

Question 15

In a variable-ratio schedule, the reinforcer is given

Accepted Answer

In a variable-ratio schedule, the reinforcer is given after a variable number of nonreinforced responses. This means that the exact number of responses required before receiving the reinforcement is unpredictable, but on average a certain number of responses will result in the reinforcement. This type of schedule is known to be a very effective way of maintaining behavior, as the person or animal knows that if they keep trying, eventually they will receive the reinforcement. This creates a high rate of responding, as the person or animal continues to attempt to receive the reinforcement.

Question 16

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets. The rat is pressing the lever at a slow, steady rate, but it does not stop, even when a food pellet is delivered. In this example, the reinforcement schedule that is in place is MOST likely

Accepted Answer

The rat is pressing the lever at a steady rate, even after a food pellet is delivered. This behavior is characteristic of a variable-interval schedule, where reinforcement is given at unpredictable times after a set amount of time has passed. The rat may be anticipating another food pellet even after receiving one, leading it to continue pressing the lever at a steady rate.

Question 17

Ratio schedules always relate to the

Accepted Answer

Ratio schedules are based on the number of responses given and the number of reinforcements given. With a ratio schedule, reinforcement is given after a certain number of responses have occurred. The ratio requirement can vary, but it is always based on the number of responses.

Question 18

The behavior that would be most difficult to extinguish would be one that was

Accepted Answer

Behavior that is reinforced intermittently is the most difficult to extinguish because it is reinforced only sometimes, making the individual uncertain about when reinforcement will occur. This uncertainty leads to an increase in behavior in the hopes of being reinforced. This phenomenon is called the partial reinforcement effect.

Question 19

Josiah checks his electronic mail several times throughout the day. Some days there is mail each time he checks; sometimes several days go by with no new messages arriving. In this example, Josiah's behavior of checking his electronic mail is being reinforced on

Accepted Answer

In a variable-interval schedule, reinforcement is delivered after a varying amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement, making it unpredictable when reinforcement will occur. This is consistent with Josiah's behavior of checking his electronic mail, where he is sometimes reinforced with new messages and sometimes not. The other options do not fit as well because they either involve a fixed amount of time or a fixed number of responses before reinforcement is delivered.

Question 20

In terms of reinforcement schedules, interval schedules always relate to the

Accepted Answer

Interval schedules are based on the elapsed time between reinforcements, rather than the number of responses given or reinforcements given. This can be further broken down into fixed interval (reinforcement delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed) and variable interval (reinforcement delivered after an unpredictable amount of time has passed).

Quiz 11: Learning Part 1

Given the same frequency of reinforcement, schedules generate higher rates of responding than do schedules.