Question 1

Matt completed his assignments on time as his teacher had said that she would allow extra play time to children who submit their assignments on or before time. Which of the following made Matt complete his assignments on time?
A)Positive reinforcement
B)Negative reinforcement
C)Respondent behavior
D)Unlearned reflexes
E)Intermittent reinforcement

Accepted Answer

As Matt had been promised extra time at the play area, he completed his assignments on time. This is an example of positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently presenting something pleasing.

Question 2

Papa Bill's, a local pizza chain, instituted a new compensation policy to increase the on-time delivery of its pizzas. Drivers were paid an extra $1.00 for each on-time delivery, payable on the next pay period. However, a review of the policy showed that traffic tickets for reckless driving among delivery drivers had increased by 50% since the new policy was introduced. Which of the following best explains why this reward system did not perform as expected?
A)The organization was unintentionally rewarding counterproductive behavior.
B)Employees viewed the $1.00 incentive as an entitlement.
C)The delay was too long between the performance and the reward.
D)The organization placed too much emphasis on monetary rewards.
E)The reward lacked an "appreciation effect."

Accepted Answer

Despite huge investments of time and money for monetary and nonmonetary compensation, the desired motivational impact often is not achieved when counterproductive behavior is rewarded. In this scenario, even though Papa Bill's was trying to focus its rewards on the on-time performance of its drivers, it was inadvertently rewarding reckless driving.

Question 3

According to the concept of building blocks, leading for progress involves:
A)inspiring employees and modeling desired behaviors.
B)empowering employees and delegating meaningful assignments and tasks.
C)supporting and coaching employees.
D)carefully selecting employees with the right attitude.
E)monitoring and rewarding employees.

Accepted Answer

Managers lead for progress by monitoring and rewarding others.

Question 4

Anna blinks her eyes whenever she looks up at the sun. This is an example of _____.
A)respondent behavior
B)a learned reaction
C)behavioral contingency
D)operant behavior
E)law of effect

Accepted Answer

This is an example of respondent behavior. Skinner labeled unlearned reflexes, or stimulus-response (S-R) connections, respondent behavior. This category of behavior was said to describe a very small proportion of adult human behavior. Examples of respondent behavior would include shedding tears while peeling onions and reflexively withdrawing one's hand from a hot stove.

Question 5

_____ is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing.
A)Positive reinforcement
B)Negative reinforcement
C)Punishment
D)Extinction
E)Intermittent reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing.

Question 6

Barbara is training her new puppy to sit on command. Every time the puppy responds correctly, it receives a treat. Barbara is using a _____ reinforcement schedule.
A)fixed reward
B)variable ratio
C)fixed interval
D)variable interval
E)continuous

Accepted Answer

Barbara is using a continuous reinforcement schedule with her puppy. Every instance of a target behavior is reinforced when a continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedule is in effect.

Question 7

A _____ schedule of reinforcement consists of providing reinforcement after a fluctuating time period has elapsed.
A)continuous
B)fixed ratio
C)variable ratio
D)fixed interval
E)variable interval

Accepted Answer

Examples of variable interval include slot machines that pay off after a variable number of lever pulls; lotteries that pay off after the purchase of a variable number of tickets.

Question 8

Philip got a mail from his supervisor with compliments and praises for his work over the past few months. This instance is an example of _____ schedule of reinforcement.
A)continuous
B)fixed ratio
C)variable ratio
D)fixed interval
E)variable interval

Accepted Answer

Variable interval includes random supervisory praise and pats on the back for employees who have been doing a good job, as in this case.

Question 9

_____ is Skinner's term for unlearned stimulus-response reflexes.
A)Operant behavior
B)Respondent behavior
C)Response to stimuli
D)Punishment
E)Behavioral contingency

Accepted Answer

In his 1938 classic, The Behavior of Organisms, Skinner drew an important distinction between the two types of behavior: respondent and operant behavior. He labeled unlearned reflexes, or stimulus-response (S-R) connections, respondent behavior.

Question 10

_____ is defined as the process of reinforcing closer and closer approximations to a target behavior.
A)Positive reinforcement
B)Negative reinforcement
C)Shaping
D)Extinction
E)Punishment

Accepted Answer

Shaping is defined as the process of reinforcing closer and closer approximations to a target behavior.

Question 11

According to Thorndike's law of effect, behavior with unfavorable consequences tends to _____.
A)be repeated
B)remain constant
C)disappear
D)be neutral
E)dominate

Accepted Answer

Thorndike formulated his famous law of effect, which says behavior with favorable consequences tends to be repeated, while behavior with unfavorable consequences tends to disappear.

Question 12

Joshua used to run into heavy traffic every day while driving to work. One morning, he left his home earlier than usual and did not run into heavy traffic. Again the next morning, he left earlier and avoided heavy traffic. His behavior of leaving earlier enabled him to avoid heavy traffic and reach office on time. Which of the following processes did Joshua engage in?
A)Positive reinforcement
B)Extinction
C)Punishment
D)Negative reinforcement
E)Intermittent reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing. In this scenario, Joshua strengthened his behavior or leaving early and avoided heavy traffic.

Question 13

_____ is the process of weakening behavior through the contingent presentation of something displeasing.
A)Positive reinforcement
B)Negative reinforcement
C)Punishment
D)Extinction
E)Shaping

Accepted Answer

Punishment is the process of weakening behavior through either the contingent presentation of something displeasing or the contingent withdrawal of something positive.

Question 14

Paying an employee $10 for every 20 units he or she produces is an example of a _____ schedule of reinforcement.
A)continuous
B)fixed ratio
C)variable ratio
D)fixed interval
E)variable interval

Accepted Answer

A common example of fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement is piece-rate pay.

Question 15

A _____ schedule of reinforcement consists of providing reinforcement after a constant, specific time period has elapsed.
A)continuous
B)fixed ratio
C)variable ratio
D)fixed interval
E)variable interval

Accepted Answer

Intermittent reinforcement involves reinforcement of some but not all instances of a target behavior. Examples of fixed interval reinforcement are hourly pay and annual salary paid on a regular basis.

Question 16

Polly worked as a bartender. A few people used to wave money toward her so that she would serve them first. She used to find this to be rude and hence, either ignored them or always served them last. People realized that she serves only the people who wait politely, and then their rude behavior stopped. This implies that Polly used the model of _____.
A)positive reinforcement
B)negative reinforcement
C)variable ratio reinforcement
D)extinction
E)shaping

Accepted Answer

Polly used the model of extinction. Extinction is the weakening of a behavior by ignoring it or making sure it is not reinforced.

Question 17

_____ is an example of a pay for performance system.
A)Hourly wage
B)Signing bonus
C)Vacation pay
D)Sick pay
E)Piece-rate pay

Accepted Answer

Pay for performance is the popular term for monetary incentives linking at least some portion of the paycheck directly to results or accomplishments. The most basic form of pay for performance is the traditional piece-rate plan, whereby the employee is paid a specified amount of money for each unit of work.

Question 18

Joanne was teaching her two year old son to write his first name. She praised him for writing the first letter correctly. After the child had mastered that first step, she praised him for every letter he wrote, until he wrote the entire name correctly. This implies that Joanne was engaging in _____.
A)shaping
B)negative reinforcement
C)punishment
D)extinction
E)positive reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Shaping is defined as the process of reinforcing closer and closer approximations to a target behavior. In this case, Joanne praised her son letter-by-letter until the entire name was correctly written by him.

Question 19

Barney was late to work one morning. So he drove over the speed limit through a school zone. As a result, he got pulled over by a police officer and received a ticket. This scenario is an instance of _____.
A)positive reinforcement
B)negative reinforcement
C)punishment
D)extinction
E)shaping

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a punishment. Punishment is the process of weakening behavior through either the contingent presentation of something displeasing or the contingent withdrawal of something positive.

Question 20

Every instance of a target behavior is reinforced when a _____ reinforcement schedule is in effect.
A)fixed reward
B)continuous
C)variable interval
D)fixed interval
E)variable ratio

Accepted Answer

Every instance of a target behavior is reinforced when a continuous reinforcement (CRF) schedule is in effect.

Quiz 9: Improving Job Performance With Goals, Feedback, Rewards, and Positive Reinforcement

Matt completed his assignments on time as his teacher had said that she would allow extra play time to children who submit their assignments on or before time. Which of the following made Matt complete his assignments on time?

According to the concept of building blocks, leading for progress involves:

Anna blinks her eyes whenever she looks up at the sun. This is an example of _____.

_____ is the process of strengthening a behavior by contingently withdrawing something displeasing.

Barbara is training her new puppy to sit on command. Every time the puppy responds correctly, it receives a treat. Barbara is using a _____ reinforcement schedule.

A _____ schedule of reinforcement consists of providing reinforcement after a fluctuating time period has elapsed.

Philip got a mail from his supervisor with compliments and praises for his work over the past few months. This instance is an example of _____ schedule of reinforcement.

_____ is Skinner's term for unlearned stimulus-response reflexes.

_____ is defined as the process of reinforcing closer and closer approximations to a target behavior.

According to Thorndike's law of effect, behavior with unfavorable consequences tends to _____.

_____ is the process of weakening behavior through the contingent presentation of something displeasing.

Paying an employee $10 for every 20 units he or she produces is an example of a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A _____ schedule of reinforcement consists of providing reinforcement after a constant, specific time period has elapsed.

_____ is an example of a pay for performance system.

Barney was late to work one morning. So he drove over the speed limit through a school zone. As a result, he got pulled over by a police officer and received a ticket. This scenario is an instance of _____.

Every instance of a target behavior is reinforced when a _____ reinforcement schedule is in effect.