Question 1

Four people are going to go out to a bar and drink and socialize. However, prior to leaving, one of the four is assigned the job of being the "designated driver." This process is an example of __________
A) avoidance learning.
B) escape behavior.
C) learned helplessness.
D) shaping behavior.

Accepted Answer

The process of assigning one person to be the designated driver in order to avoid driving under the influence of alcohol is an example of avoidance learning, as the individual is being trained to avoid a negative consequence (in this case, getting a DUI or causing an accident) by taking a specific action (not drinking and driving).

Question 2

Olivia is punished for spilling her cereal. Her parents give her a spanking and send her to her room where she cries. Later, her puppy makes a mess on the floor. Olivia kicks her puppy and puts it out in the yard where it whines sadly. Which of the following statements explains her behavior toward the puppy?
A) Olivia is correctly applying Skinnerian principles of negative reinforcement to change her dog's behavior.
B) Olivia is using negative punishment on her dog and it will change the dog's behavior.
C) Olivia is modeling the aggressive behavior her parents demonstrated to her.
D) Olivia's parents probably think that the best way to raise kids is "spare the rod, spoil the child."

Accepted Answer

Olivia is modeling the aggressive behavior she learned from her parents when they punished her for spilling cereal. Her behavior towards the puppy is a result of learned aggression and not related to operant conditioning principles.

Question 3

Toya's young son, Troy, has a habit of nagging and throwing tantrums while in stores. Toya rarely gives in to Troy's tantrums, however, they still persist to her great frustration. Troy's behavior is an example of __________
A) effective punishment.
B) the partial-reinforcement effect.
C) the continuous-reinforcement phenomenon.
D) the extinction effect.

Accepted Answer

Troy's behavior is an example of the partial-reinforcement effect, which occurs when behaviors that are intermittently reinforced are more difficult to extinguish than those that are continuously reinforced. In this case, Troy's nagging and tantrums may have been reinforced in the past, even if only occasionally, leading to their persistence despite Toya's lack of giving in to them.

Question 4

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with the use of punishment?
A) Punishment generally produces no short-term results.
B) Punishment does not extinguish an undesirable behavior, but rather it suppresses that behavior.
C) Punishment can lead to aggression.
D) Punishment indicates that a behavior is unacceptable but does not help a person develop an appropriate behavior.

Accepted Answer

Punishment can often produce short-term results, but the long-term effects may not be desirable. Therefore, A is not a problem associated with the use of punishment. The other options are well-established problems associated with punishment.

Question 5

Which of the following is most often confused?
A) continuous and partial reinforcement
B) positive and negative reinforcement
C) mitigated and partial reinforcement
D) punishment and negative reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Punishment and negative reinforcement are often confused because both involve behavior modification, but they work in opposite ways. Punishment aims to decrease a behavior by applying an undesirable consequence, while negative reinforcement increases a behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus.

Question 6

Sarah's parents are trying to use operant conditioning to toilet train her. Sarah is awarded three M&M candies every time she successfully uses the bathroom. For this technique to work most effectively, Sarah's parents should reinforce the desired behavior __________
A) immediately after each successful occasion.
B) after a short delay.
C) within thirty minutes of Sarah's using the bathroom.
D) when Sarah requests the candy.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is most effective when the reinforcement is immediate, meaning that Sarah's parents should give her the M&M candies immediately after each successful occasion of using the bathroom. Delaying reinforcement or waiting for Sarah to request the candy may weaken the association between the desired behavior (using the bathroom) and the reward (M&M candies). Similarly, reinforcing the behavior within thirty minutes may still be effective, but the most efficient and effective method is to provide immediate reinforcement.

Question 7

A child is punished and temporarily stops his or her well-established bad behavior. However, the child soon goes back to acting badly. This is probably because __________
A) the effects of punishment have habituated.
B) punishment is known only to temporarily suppress or inhibit a behavior.
C) the bad behavior has spontaneously recovered.
D) the conditional emotional response to the punishment has generalized to another behavior.

Accepted Answer

Punishment is known to only temporarily suppress or inhibit behavior. It does not teach or reinforce the desired behavior, and the child is likely to return to the previously established behavior once the punishment is removed or no longer effective. Habituation (A) and spontaneous recovery (C) are more relevant to classical conditioning, while conditional emotional response to punishment generalizing to another behavior (D) is less likely in this scenario.

Question 8

Michael's parents want him to learn to play tennis. Michael has no particular interest in the game. From an operant conditioning perspective, Michael may learn the game if his parents are insistent, but __________
A) it will take him longer to learn the game than it would if he were interested.
B) he will not become proficient at the game.
C) he will also learn to resent his parents.
D) he will not enjoy playing tennis with others.

Accepted Answer

The operant conditioning theory suggests that behavior is strengthened by positive reinforcement or punishments. In the case of Michael, if his parents are insistent, they may use reinforcement techniques to encourage him to play tennis. However, since Michael does not have any particular interest in the game, it may take him longer to learn and become proficient than someone who is genuinely interested.

Question 9

Many students dread public speaking so they do not give oral presentations or take speech classes. This is an example of __________
A) avoidance learning.
B) learned helplessness.
C) extinction learning.
D) generalized learning.

Accepted Answer

Avoidance learning is the process of avoiding or withdrawing from unpleasant or aversive stimuli, such as public speaking. Students who avoid oral presentations or speech classes are engaging in avoidance learning.

Question 10

__________ is the opposite of reinforcement.
A) Partial reinforcement
B) Continuous reinforcement
C) Negative reinforcement
D) Punishment

Accepted Answer

Punishment is the opposite of reinforcement. While reinforcement is a consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, punishment is a consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Question 11

Which strategy will NOT increase the effects of punishment?
A) making the punishment occur only on a partial, sporadic schedule
B) making the punishment consistent
C) using only the minimum level of punishment needed.
D) having the punishment immediately follow the behavior it is meant to punish

Accepted Answer

Making the punishment occur only on a partial, sporadic schedule may actually decrease the effects of punishment, as the individual may not be able to predict when the punishment will occur and may not learn to avoid the behavior consistently. The other options (B, C, and D) are all strategies that can increase the effects of punishment. Making the punishment consistent and using only the minimum level of punishment needed ensures that the individual understands the consequences of their behavior and avoids it in the future. Having the punishment immediately follow the behavior it is meant to punish helps to make the association between the behavior and the punishment clear.

Question 12

Sammy took two aspirin to treat a pounding headache. This is an example of _________
A) avoidance learning.
B) extinction learning.
C) escape learning.
D) learned helplessness.

Accepted Answer

Sammy took action to escape or alleviate the uncomfortable state of his headache, which is an example of escape learning. Avoidance learning involves learning to avoid or prevent an unpleasant stimulus, extinction learning involves unlearning a previously learned response when the stimulus is no longer present, and learned helplessness involves a perceived inability to escape or avoid an unpleasant stimulus or situation.

Question 13

What has occurred when there is a decrease in the likelihood or rate of a target response?
A) punishment
B) positive reinforcement
C) negative reinforcement
D) positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement

Accepted Answer

A decrease in the likelihood or rate of a target response is the result of punishment, which involves the presentation of an unpleasant consequence in response to a behavior, leading to a decrease in the frequency of that behavior. Positive reinforcement increases the likelihood or rate of a target response by adding a pleasant consequence in response to a behavior, while negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a target response by removing an unpleasant consequence in response to a behavior. Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement both increase the likelihood or rate of a target response, so they cannot be the correct answer.

Question 14

Which of the following statements is true regarding punishment?
A) The effect of punishment is often temporary.
B) Severe punishment creates fear and anger.
C) Punishment is the opposite of reinforcement.
D) All of these statements are true.

Accepted Answer

- A is true because the effect of punishment tends to decrease over time as the behavior is no longer reinforced by the punishment.
- B is true because severe punishment can create negative emotions such as fear, anger, or resentment, which may cause the punished behavior to persist or escalate. 
- C is true because punishment involves decreasing the likelihood of a behavior, whereas reinforcement involves increasing the likelihood of a behavior. Therefore, they are opposite processes.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors that influence operant conditioning?
A) the magnitude of reinforcement
B) the immediacy of reinforcement
C) the quality of the reinforcement
D) the level of motivation of the learner

Accepted Answer

The quality of the reinforcement is not typically listed as one of the three main factors influencing operant conditioning, which are magnitude, immediacy, and motivation.

Question 16

An expert on parenting is addressing parents at the local grade school. When the topic of punishment is discussed, what is one outcome of punishment the expert is likely to note for the parents to consider?
A) Punishment can also lead to the child acting aggressively.
B) Punished children tend to do really well in school.
C) Punishment motivates the child to focus on schoolwork.
D) Punishment tends to increase the number of nightmares experienced.

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that punishment can actually increase aggression and lead to negative behavior in children. Therefore, it is important for parents to consider alternative methods of discipline and behavior management. The other options (B, C, D) are not supported by research and are not likely outcomes of punishment.

Question 17

Whenever Angus tries to reach his girlfriend Jean on the phone, he must dial several times because she is quite the talker and her line is often busy. When Angus finally gets through to Jean, he will be reinforced on which schedule?
A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

Jean's phone availability is on a variable ratio schedule. This means that Angus is reinforced on an unpredictable schedule that is based on the number of times he dials, rather than the amount of time that passes between attempts. The more times he calls, the greater the chance he will eventually reach Jean, making it a variable ratio schedule.

Question 18

The partial reinforcement effect refers to the fact that a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses __________
A) will be more resistant to extinction than a response that receives continuous reinforcement (a reinforcer for each and every correct response).
B) will be less resistant to extinction than a response that receives continuous reinforcement (a reinforcer for each and every correct response).
C) will be more variable in its resistance to extinction than a response that receives continuous reinforcement (a reinforcer for each and every correct response).
D) will be totally resistant to extinction unlike a response that receives continuous reinforcement (reinforcer
For each and every correct response).

Accepted Answer

The partial reinforcement effect refers to the fact that a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses will be more resistant to extinction than a response that receives continuous reinforcement. This is because the person/animal learns that the reinforcement is not available every time they respond, so they keep responding in hopes of receiving the reinforcement. If the reinforcement is provided every time, the person/animal may quickly realize that they don't need to keep responding because they will always receive the reinforcement.

Question 19

When a stimulus is removed from a person or animal resulting in a decrease in the probability of response, it is known as __________
A) positive punishment.
B) negative punishment.
C) negative reinforcement.
D) punishing reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

This decrease in the probability of response due to the removal of a stimulus is known as negative punishment. Positive punishment involves adding an aversive stimulus to decrease the probability of a response. Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase the probability of a response. Punishing reinforcement is not a recognized term in psychology.

Question 20

A stimulus presented to a person or animal that decreases the probability of a particular response is known as __________
A) positive punishment.
B) negative punishment.
C) negative reinforcement.
D) negative expectation.

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment involves adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior.

Quiz 5: Learning

Four people are going to go out to a bar and drink and socialize. However, prior to leaving, one of the four is assigned the job of being the "designated driver." This process is an example of __________

Toya's young son, Troy, has a habit of nagging and throwing tantrums while in stores. Toya rarely gives in to Troy's tantrums, however, they still persist to her great frustration. Troy's behavior is an example of __________

Which of the following is NOT a problem associated with the use of punishment?

Which of the following is most often confused?

Sarah's parents are trying to use operant conditioning to toilet train her. Sarah is awarded three M&M candies every time she successfully uses the bathroom. For this technique to work most effectively, Sarah's parents should reinforce the desired behavior __________

A child is punished and temporarily stops his or her well-established bad behavior. However, the child soon goes back to acting badly. This is probably because __________

Michael's parents want him to learn to play tennis. Michael has no particular interest in the game. From an operant conditioning perspective, Michael may learn the game if his parents are insistent, but __________

Many students dread public speaking so they do not give oral presentations or take speech classes. This is an example of __________

__________ is the opposite of reinforcement.

Which strategy will NOT increase the effects of punishment?

Sammy took two aspirin to treat a pounding headache. This is an example of _________

What has occurred when there is a decrease in the likelihood or rate of a target response?

Which of the following statements is true regarding punishment?

Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors that influence operant conditioning?

An expert on parenting is addressing parents at the local grade school. When the topic of punishment is discussed, what is one outcome of punishment the expert is likely to note for the parents to consider?

Whenever Angus tries to reach his girlfriend Jean on the phone, he must dial several times because she is quite the talker and her line is often busy. When Angus finally gets through to Jean, he will be reinforced on which schedule?

The partial reinforcement effect refers to the fact that a response that is reinforced after some, but not all, correct responses __________

When a stimulus is removed from a person or animal resulting in a decrease in the probability of response, it is known as __________

A stimulus presented to a person or animal that decreases the probability of a particular response is known as __________