Question 1

In which type of reinforcement schedule do consequences follow a behaviour after different times,some shorter and some longer around a specified average time?
A)fixed interval  
B)variable interval  
C)fixed ratio  
D)variable ratio

Accepted Answer

This type of reinforcement schedule is called variable interval, where a specific behavior is reinforced after an unpredictable or varying amount of time. This means that sometimes the behavior may be reinforced quickly, while other times it may take longer to receive reinforcement.

Question 2

British Columbia has a carbon tax on gasoline of 6.67 cents per litre,making its average price per litre of gasoline among the highest in the country. In terms of reinforcement theory,what is the B.C. government trying to use to get people to change their gasoline usage habits?
A)avoidance learning  
B)expectancy modification  
C)negative reinforcement  
D)punishment

Accepted Answer

The B.C. government is using punishment by imposing a carbon tax to discourage gasoline usage, making it more expensive and less desirable.

Question 3

The number of people who play high-stakes poker is increasing as a result of a number of cable television shows featuring professional poker players vying for $100,000 pots. In terms of reinforcement theory,which kind of reinforcement schedule motivates the behaviour of these card players?
A)variable ratio  
B)fixed ratio  
C)fixed interval  
D)variable interval

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio schedules of reinforcement are known to consistently produce high and steady rates of behaviour because the reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses. In the case of high-stakes poker players, the unpredictability of when they will win a significant pot (i.e. the reinforcement) keeps them engaged in the behaviour of playing poker.

Question 4

Excessive speed is a major cause of road crashes in Saskatchewan. The Saskatchewan government started a pilot project using cameras to catch speeders,but it has access to only a limited number of cameras and there are many areas where speeding is a problem. Following a period where only warnings were issued,substantial fines are now being handed out to people who get caught speeding. According to reinforcement theory,what are Saskatchewan officials using to control speeding?
A)avoidance learning  
B)expectancy modification  
C)negative reinforcement  
D)punishment

Accepted Answer

Saskatchewan officials are using punishment to control speeding by giving out substantial fines to those who get caught.

Question 5

Recently,an ad agency manager noticed her employees have shown an unwillingness to work as a team. She decided to use reinforcement to encourage more team cohesiveness. Which of the following is the best advice on how to motivate her team with reinforcement theory?
A)Avoid intermittent reinforcement scheduling. 
B)Administer punishment on an intermittent schedule. 
C)Choose a complicated reinforcement schedule so the employees will be surprised when rewarded. 
D)Don't reinforce the wrong behaviours.

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement theory states that behaviors that are reinforced are likely to be repeated, while behaviors that are not reinforced are less likely to be repeated. Therefore, it is important to reinforce the right behaviors, those that demonstrate teamwork and collaboration. Administering punishment on an intermittent schedule and choosing a complicated reinforcement schedule can actually decrease motivation and cause confusion among employees. Avoiding intermittent reinforcement scheduling is also important, but reinforcing the right behaviors should be the priority. Therefore, the best advice is to not reinforce the wrong behaviors.

Question 6

What is the term for the set of rules regarding reinforcement contingencies,such as which behaviours will be reinforced,which consequences will follow those behaviours,and the timeline by which those consequences will be delivered?
A)contingency of reinforcement  
B)instrumentality of reinforcement  
C)schedule of reinforcement  
D)expectancy of reinforcement

Accepted Answer

The term "schedule of reinforcement" refers to the set of rules that dictate the conditions under which behaviors will be reinforced, the type of consequences that will follow those behaviors, and the timing of when those consequences will be delivered.

Question 7

Many restaurants review their employees' wages on a quarterly basis,with nominal raises offered pending acceptable performance. Which kind of reinforcement schedule is being used?
A)variable ratio  
B)fixed ratio  
C)fixed interval  
D)variable interval

Accepted Answer

The reinforcement schedule being used is fixed interval, as the review and raise occur on a set time schedule (quarterly basis).

Question 8

For punishment to work (i.e.,to weaken the frequency of undesirable behaviours without creating a backlash),the punishment must be strong enough to stop the undesired behaviour. How must punishment be administered?
A)subjectively  
B)physiologically  
C)consistently,contingently,and quickly  
D)through need deprivation

Accepted Answer

Punishment should be administered consistently, contingently, and quickly. This means that the punishment should always follow the undesired behavior, be proportional to the behavior, and happen immediately after the behavior occurs. This helps to form a clear connection between the undesired behavior and the consequences, increasing the likelihood of behavior change. Subjective or physiologically-based punishment methods may not be effective or appropriate, and punishment through need deprivation can have ethical implications.

Question 9

Which reinforcement schedule may be the best choice for managers in terms of simplicity and effectiveness?
A)continuous  
B)fixed ratio  
C)variable ratio  
D)fixed interval

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement involves the immediate reinforcement of a desired behavior every time it is exhibited. This is the simplest reinforcement schedule and is effective in quickly establishing new behaviors. For managers looking to shape employee behaviors, continuous reinforcement is a straightforward approach that is easy to implement and ensure consistent reinforcement for desired behaviors.

Question 10

What should a manager do first when using reinforcement theory to motivate workers?
A)Evaluate critical behaviour. 
B)Identify critical performance-related behaviour. 
C)Analyze motivational cues. 
D)Measure the value of existing extrinsic and intrinsic rewards.

Accepted Answer

Identifying critical performance-related behavior is the first step in applying reinforcement theory to motivate workers. This involves pinpointing specific behaviors that directly impact performance and organizational goals, which can then be reinforced to encourage their recurrence.

Question 11

A manufacturer of modular housing gives each employee a monthly $300 bonus if he or she is neither absent nor late to work for the entire month. There are no excused absences. What type of reinforcement occurs when a parent with a hospitalized child loses their bonus?
A)negative reinforcement  
B)extinction  
C)punishment  
D)intermittent reinforcement

Accepted Answer

The loss of the monthly bonus would be considered punishment in this scenario. The parent's behavior (attendance) did not meet the criteria for receiving the bonus, and therefore they experienced a negative consequence (loss of bonus). This is an example of punishment, specifically negative punishment.

Question 12

British Columbia has a carbon tax on gasoline of 6.67 cents per litre,making its average price per litre of gasoline among the highest in the country. In terms of reinforcement theory,which kind of reinforcement schedule is being used?
A)variable ratio  
B)fixed punishment  
C)continuous  
D)intermittent

Accepted Answer

The answer of British Columbia has a carbon tax on...

Question 13

In which type of reinforcement schedule does a consequence follow every instance of a behaviour?
A)continuous  
B)intermittent  
C)variable interval  
D)fixed ratio

Accepted Answer

In a continuous reinforcement schedule, a consequence (reward or punishment) follows every instance of a behavior. This is in contrast to intermittent reinforcement schedules, where consequences only follow certain instances of the behavior. Variable interval and fixed ratio schedules are both types of intermittent reinforcement schedules.

Question 14

In which type of reinforcement schedule are consequences delivered after a specific number of behaviours?
A)fixed interval  
B)continuous interval  
C)fixed ratio  
D)intermittent interval

Accepted Answer

In a fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, consequences are delivered after a specific number of behaviors have been performed. This schedule rewards an action after it has been performed a certain number of times, making it predictable based on the number of responses.

Question 15

Workplace injuries cost billions every year. Safety needs to become a practice,not just a theory. The goal of developing safety consciousness within the workforce requires continuous reinforcement at every organizational level. Which statement explains what this means?
A)No consequences should be delivered until reinforcement can be handed out to everyone. 
B)A consequence must be delivered following every instance of behaviour. 
C)Consequences should be delivered following a variable reinforcement schedule. 
D)Consequences should be delivered following an average number of behaviours.

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement involves delivering consequences after every instance of behavior to develop safety consciousness.

Question 16

In which reinforcement strategy does a behaviour have no consequences,positive or negative,thus weakening the behaviour over time?
A)positive reinforcement  
B)negative reinforcement  
C)punishment  
D)extinction

Accepted Answer

Extinction is a reinforcement strategy in which a behavior has no consequences, positive or negative, thus weakening the behavior over time. This is done by not reinforcing the behavior, which leads to the behavior eventually diminishing.

Question 17

Which type of reinforcement schedule tends to produce weaker results than the other types of reinforcement schedules when it comes to reinforcing behaviour in organizational settings?
A)continuous  
B)fixed ratio  
C)interval  
D)variable ratio

Accepted Answer

Interval reinforcement schedule tends to produce weaker results than the other types of reinforcement schedules in organizational settings. This is because the reinforcement is provided based on time rather than specific behaviors, which may not always be related to the desired behavior that needs to be reinforced. As a result, employees may not be motivated to engage in the desired behavior consistently, leading to weaker results. Continuous reinforcement is effective but can lead to a decrease in motivation once the reinforcement is removed. Fixed ratio and variable ratio schedules are more effective as they reward specific behaviors, but variable ratio is considered the most effective as it provides reinforcement on an unpredictable schedule, leading to a higher level of motivation and engagement.

Question 18

In which type of reinforcement schedule do consequences follow a behaviour only after a certain amount of time has elapsed?
A)fixed interval  
B)variable interval  
C)fixed ratio  
D)variable ratio

Accepted Answer

In a fixed interval schedule, reinforcement is provided for the first response after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Question 19

Which of the following is a category of reinforcement schedules?
A)instrumental  
B)contiguous  
C)variable interval  
D)adjacent

Accepted Answer

Variable interval is a category of reinforcement schedules. Instrumental refers to the relationship between a behavior and its consequences, contiguous refers to the closeness in time between a behavior and its consequence, and adjacent is not a recognized term in regards to reinforcement schedules.

Question 20

Which of the following is also called avoidance learning?
A)positive reinforcement  
B)negative reinforcement  
C)punishment  
D)extinction

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is also called avoidance learning. It involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future.

Quiz 12: Motivation

In which type of reinforcement schedule do consequences follow a behaviour after different times,some shorter and some longer around a specified average time?

British Columbia has a carbon tax on gasoline of 6.67 cents per litre,making its average price per litre of gasoline among the highest in the country. In terms of reinforcement theory,what is the B.C. government trying to use to get people to change their gasoline usage habits?

The number of people who play high-stakes poker is increasing as a result of a number of cable television shows featuring professional poker players vying for $100,000 pots. In terms of reinforcement theory,which kind of reinforcement schedule motivates the behaviour of these card players?

Recently,an ad agency manager noticed her employees have shown an unwillingness to work as a team. She decided to use reinforcement to encourage more team cohesiveness. Which of the following is the best advice on how to motivate her team with reinforcement theory?

What is the term for the set of rules regarding reinforcement contingencies,such as which behaviours will be reinforced,which consequences will follow those behaviours,and the timeline by which those consequences will be delivered?

Many restaurants review their employees' wages on a quarterly basis,with nominal raises offered pending acceptable performance. Which kind of reinforcement schedule is being used?

For punishment to work (i.e.,to weaken the frequency of undesirable behaviours without creating a backlash) ,the punishment must be strong enough to stop the undesired behaviour. How must punishment be administered?

Which reinforcement schedule may be the best choice for managers in terms of simplicity and effectiveness?

What should a manager do first when using reinforcement theory to motivate workers?

A manufacturer of modular housing gives each employee a monthly $300 bonus if he or she is neither absent nor late to work for the entire month. There are no excused absences. What type of reinforcement occurs when a parent with a hospitalized child loses their bonus?

British Columbia has a carbon tax on gasoline of 6.67 cents per litre,making its average price per litre of gasoline among the highest in the country. In terms of reinforcement theory,which kind of reinforcement schedule is being used?

In which type of reinforcement schedule does a consequence follow every instance of a behaviour?

In which type of reinforcement schedule are consequences delivered after a specific number of behaviours?

Workplace injuries cost billions every year. Safety needs to become a practice,not just a theory. The goal of developing safety consciousness within the workforce requires continuous reinforcement at every organizational level. Which statement explains what this means?

In which reinforcement strategy does a behaviour have no consequences,positive or negative,thus weakening the behaviour over time?

Which type of reinforcement schedule tends to produce weaker results than the other types of reinforcement schedules when it comes to reinforcing behaviour in organizational settings?

In which type of reinforcement schedule do consequences follow a behaviour only after a certain amount of time has elapsed?

Which of the following is a category of reinforcement schedules?

Which of the following is also called avoidance learning?