Question 1

Using Skinner's words, an operant is any "active behavior that operates on the environment to generate consequences."

Accepted Answer

This statement accurately reflects Skinner's definition of an operant. An operant is an active behavior that an organism produces which then has an effect on the environment, ultimately generating consequences that can either reinforce or extinguish the behavior.

Question 2

Whether an aversive stimulus is delivered or a reinforcing stimulus is removed, punishment always means that behavior decreases.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Punishment by definition involves a consequence that decreases the likelihood of the behavior being repeated in the future, regardless of whether it involves the delivery of an aversive stimulus or the removal of a reinforcing stimulus.

Question 3

Punishment is one of the most effective operant conditioning techniques used to teach or promote new behaviors.

Accepted Answer

Punishment may suppress unwanted behavior temporarily but does not effectively teach or promote new behaviors. Positive reinforcement is generally more effective for encouraging desired behaviors.

Question 4

A major contribution of B. F. Skinner to the psychology of learning was his demonstration of the effects on behavior of different schedules of reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. B.F. Skinner is known for his research on operant conditioning, in which behaviors are shaped and maintained through consequences or reinforcement. He studied the effects of different schedules of reinforcement, such as fixed ratio, variable ratio, fixed interval, and variable interval, on behavior and demonstrated that they have different effects on the frequency and persistence of behavior.

Question 5

While at the airport, seven-year-old Connor discovered a quarter in the coin return of a pay telephone. Ever since, Connor checks the coin return of any pay telephone he sees. Using operant conditioning terms, positive reinforcement has occurred in this situation.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement has occurred because finding a quarter in the coin return of a pay telephone has been a pleasant experience for Connor, which increases the probability of him repeating this behavior in the future.

Question 6

Once a behavior has been suppressed by punishment, the behavior is unlikely to reappear.

Accepted Answer

While punishment may temporarily suppress a behavior, it does not necessarily eliminate it or prevent it from reappearing in the future. The effectiveness of punishment also depends on various factors such as the severity of the punishment, consistency of application, and the individual's motivation to avoid the punishment. Additionally, punishment can sometimes lead to unintended negative consequences or alternative behaviors that serve the same purpose as the punished behavior.

Question 7

You take two aspirin to relieve a headache. Thirty minutes later, the headache is gone. You are now more likely to take aspirin to deal with bodily aches and pains in the future. In other words, negative reinforcement by escape has occurred.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement by escape occurs when a behavior is strengthened by the termination or avoidance of an unpleasant outcome. In this scenario, taking aspirin resulted in the termination of the unpleasant outcome (headache), thus reinforcing the behavior of taking aspirin to deal with bodily aches and pains in the future.

Question 8

Olivia decided to try a new recipe. For dinner that night, she served up the new "Chef's Surprise," which she spent most of the day preparing. After one taste, the rest of the family voted to go out for pizza. Because she has experienced negative reinforcement, Olivia no longer tries new recipes.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior. Olivia's situation describes a punishment (the family's reaction) that may decrease her likelihood of trying new recipes, not negative reinforcement.

Question 9

Julie always pays her electric bill on time each month to avoid incurring a late charge. Using operant conditioning terms, Julie's behavior is being maintained by positive reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Julie’s behavior is being maintained by negative reinforcement, as she pays her bill on time to avoid the negative consequence of a late charge.

Question 10

Conditioned reinforcers acquire their reinforcing value by being associated with primary reinforcers.

Accepted Answer

Conditioned reinforcers, also known as secondary reinforcers, gain their reinforcing properties through their association with primary or unconditioned reinforcers, such as food, water, or social contact. Over time, conditioned reinforcers like praise, money, or grades can become just as effective as primary reinforcers in maintaining behavior.

Question 11

Positive reinforcement strengthens the occurrence of a behavior by the removal of an aversive stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement strengthens behavior by adding a pleasant stimulus, not by removing an aversive one. The latter describes negative reinforcement.

Question 12

The respect of your peers, the approval of your instructors or managers, a smile, a touch, or a nod of recognition can all be possible examples of conditioned reinforcers.

Accepted Answer

This is true. A conditioned reinforcer is a stimulus or event that becomes reinforcing through its association with another reinforcer. Examples of conditioned reinforcers include social approval, attention, and praise.

Question 13

Awards, frequent flier points, and college degrees are examples of primary reinforcers.

Accepted Answer

Primary reinforcers are naturally reinforcing, such as food and water, while awards, frequent flier points, and college degrees are secondary reinforcers, which are learned and associated with primary reinforcers.

Question 14

Whenever Margaret has personal problems, she confides in two co-workers who listen very attentively and offer her emotional support. The amount of time that Margaret spends discussing her personal problems with co-workers has steadily increased. In this example, positive reinforcement is occurring.

Accepted Answer

Margaret's behavior of confiding in her co-workers is being reinforced by their attentiveness and emotional support, which is a form of positive reinforcement.

Question 15

While positive reinforcement increases or strengthens a response, negative reinforcement decreases or weakens a response.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement actually increases a response by removing or reducing an unpleasant stimulus. It is different from punishment, which decreases a response.

Question 16

Your dog jumps up on a visitor and you smack him with a rolled up newspaper. The next time you have visitors, your dog doesn't jump on them. This is an example of positive punishment, or punishment by application.

Accepted Answer

Positive punishment refers to applying an aversive stimulus to decrease the frequency of a behavior. Smacking the dog with a rolled up newspaper is an aversive stimulus and it caused a decrease in the behavior of jumping on visitors, hence it is an example of positive punishment.

Question 17

A supervisor reprimands an employee for wearing jeans to work. From then on, the employee wears a suit and tie to work. This is an example of negative punishment, or punishment by removal.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of positive punishment, where an undesirable behavior (wearing jeans) is followed by an aversive consequence (reprimand), leading to a decrease in that behavior.

Question 18

To avoid being stung by mosquitoes, you spray yourself with insect repellant before you start hiking through the woods. This is an example of negative reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement refers to the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (in this case, the possibility of getting stung by mosquitoes) as a consequence of a behavior (spraying oneself with insect repellant).

Question 19

Marlene intentionally parks her new sports car away from other cars in parking lots in order to keep her new car from getting dinged and chipped. In this example, negative reinforcement is occurring.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement occurs when a behavior is strengthened by the removal of an unpleasant stimulus. In this case, Marlene's behavior of parking her car away from other cars is strengthened by the removal of the unpleasant stimulus of her car getting dinged and chipped.

Question 20

Trophies, ribbons, certificates of achievement, and money are often used to reinforce behavior. Using operant conditioning terms, these would all be examples of primary reinforcers.

Accepted Answer

Primary reinforcers satisfy basic biological needs, while trophies, ribbons, certificates, and money are secondary reinforcers, which are learned and associated with primary reinforcers.

Quiz 5: Learning