Question 1

According to Spence, the peak-shift effect occurs because the:

Accepted Answer

According to Spence, the peak-shift effect occurs because the observed response is given by the difference between the excitatory and inhibitory generalization gradients. This means that the organism responds most strongly to stimuli that are slightly different from the trained stimulus, which shifts the peak of the generalization gradient away from the trained stimulus.

Question 2

The mediation of behavior through responses to cues in the world is known as:

Accepted Answer

The mediation of behavior through responses to cues in the world is known as stimulus control. This refers to the ability of environmental stimuli to influence and direct behavior. Stimulus control is a fundamental concept in behaviorism and refers to the way in which behavior is shaped and controlled by environmental cues, such as rewards, punishments, and other stimuli.

Question 3

If two stimuli differ within a single dimension-for example, tone frequency-the paradigm is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

Intradimensional discrimination involves distinguishing between stimuli that differ within a single dimension. The other options are not related to this specific paradigm.

Question 4

A training procedure in which difficult discrimination is learned by starting with an easy version of the task and proceeding to incrementally harder versions as the easier ones are mastered is referred to as _____ learning.

Accepted Answer

The description given matches the concept of errorless discrimination learning, where the learner gradually progresses from easier to more difficult versions of the task, thus minimizing the chances of errors and failures. Consequential learning focuses on the consequences of actions, integral learning emphasizes the connections between parts of a task, and discrimination learning is a broader term that refers to learning to differentiate between stimuli or responses.

Question 5

Gavin often gets punched by Tyler, the school bully. Gavin is also afraid of Tyler's twin brother, Tristan, since Tristan looks just like Tyler. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Gavin is generalizing his fear of Tyler onto Tristan because they look similar, even though Tristan has not directly done anything to him. This is an example of similarity-based generalization.

Question 6

Training in which presentation of two stimuli together as a compound results in a later tendency to generalize what is known about one of these stimuli to the other is known as:

Accepted Answer

The described training is known as sensory preconditioning. It refers to a phenomenon in which exposure to two stimuli together (e.g., a tone and a light) leads to a later generalization from one stimulus to the other even when they are presented separately.

Question 7

Sleep experts routinely advise good sleep hygiene that consist of:

Accepted Answer

Limiting one's bedroom stimulus, such as avoiding electronics and excessive noise, can improve sleep hygiene and promote better quality sleep. The other choices may not necessarily contribute to good sleep hygiene.

Question 8

According to the text, the compound exposure in phase 1 establishes an association between the tone and light. In phase 2, the light becomes associated with the air puff, and this learning is directly transferred to the tone, too. This is referred to as:

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to the text, the compound exposure...

Question 9

If parents use training wheels to aid their child in learning to ride a two-wheeler, they have adopted a variation of _____ learning.

Accepted Answer

The use of training wheels to help a child learn to ride a bike is an example of errorless discrimination learning, as the child is prevented from making errors (i.e. falling over) during the early stages of learning.

Question 10

In the peak-shift effect, the maximum response during generalization is:

Accepted Answer

The peak-shift effect occurs when the maximum response to a stimulus is shifted away from the nonreinforced (or punished) stimulus and towards a stimulus that is more distinct from it, indicating a change in preference or discrimination based on the reinforcement history.

Question 11

Suppose one pairs a light and a tone in the first phase of a sensory preconditioning paradigm. If one then pairs just the light with a food pellet, such that the light elicits a salivation response, the tone presented alone will:

Accepted Answer

In the sensory preconditioning paradigm, the tone becomes associated with the light during the first phase, even though it is not directly paired with the food pellet. Therefore, in the second phase, when the light is paired with the food pellet, the tone has already acquired a conditioned stimulus status and can elicit the same response (salivation) as the light.

Question 12

What is the name of the phenomenon in which prior presentation of a compound stimulus results in a later tendency for learning about one stimulus of the compound to generalize to the other stimulus?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon is called sensory preconditioning, which refers to a process in which exposure to a pair of stimuli leads to a later transfer of learning to one of the stimuli to the other stimulus.

Question 13

Compared with the generalization gradient that is observed when no discrimination training is given, the generalization gradient that is observed after discrimination training is:

Accepted Answer

After discrimination training, the generalization gradient becomes steeper because the organism has learned to distinguish between the conditioned stimulus and other similar stimuli, leading to a more precise response.

Question 14

Dylan and Aaron both enjoy foreign films. If a person later learns that Dylan also enjoys riding dirt bikes, the person may infer that Aaron also enjoys riding dirt bikes. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Acquired equivalence is the process of inferring that two stimuli are equivalent based on their association with a third stimulus. In this case, the third stimulus is enjoying foreign films, and the person may infer that because Dylan enjoys riding dirt bikes in addition to foreign films, Aaron also enjoys riding dirt bikes. This is an example of acquired equivalence because the person is making an inference about Aaron based on their association with Dylan through their shared enjoyment of foreign films.

Question 15

Stimuli that differ across multiple dimensions for example tones and lights are known as:

Accepted Answer

Extradimensional discrimination refers to the ability to distinguish between stimuli that differ across multiple dimensions, such as tones and lights. Intradimensional discrimination, on the other hand, refers to the ability to distinguish between stimuli that differ in a single dimension, such as different tones. The discrete-component model and generalization gradient are not related to this specific concept.

Question 16

Suppose one trains a dog to come running for food when one whistles a 60 dB whistle and also trains the same dog to NOT come running when one whistles a 70 dB whistle. According to the peak-shift effect, which whistle would then lead to the dog's fastest running?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Suppose one trains a dog to come...

Question 17

Errorless discrimination learning does have some significant drawbacks. While it produces _____ and _____ learning of discriminations, later studies have shown that it is rigid and inflexible.

Accepted Answer

Errorless discrimination learning produces rapid and strong learning of discriminations, but later studies have shown that it is rigid and inflexible.

Question 18

Chloe learned that babies who cry a lot also have trouble sleeping. When she later learned that babies who have trouble sleeping tend to be highly intelligent, she inferred that babies who cry a lot are also highly intelligent. This relationship is an example of:

Accepted Answer

The answer of Chloe learned that babies who cry a...

Question 19

If one uses a red light and a blue light as stimuli in a negative-patterning task, one would reward responding:

Accepted Answer

In a negative-patterning task, the correct response is rewarded when stimuli are presented individually but not when they are presented together. Thus, for red and blue lights, the reward would be given when either light is on alone, but not when both lights are on at the same time.

Question 20

Negative patterning is difficult to learn because it requires the organism to suppress its tendency to:

Accepted Answer

Negative patterning requires the organism to learn that a combination of cues predicts a different outcome than each cue alone, which is difficult because it goes against the organism's natural tendency to generalize or apply the learned response to similar stimuli.

Quiz 6: Generalization, Discrimination Learning, and Concept Formation