Question 1

Mr. Loosigian is worried about Jerri, a girl who is struggling in his seventh grade class. He thinks about several different reasons why she might be having so much difficulty with her schoolwork. Which one of the possible reasons that he considers is consistent with a behaviorist perspective of learning?

Accepted Answer

The behaviorist perspective of learning focuses on observable behaviors and how they're influenced by external stimuli, rather than internal thoughts or feelings. Praising a student when they do something well is an example of positive reinforcement, a key concept in behaviorism, which can increase the likelihood of the desired behavior occurring again.

Question 2

Which one of the following alternatives best describes instrumental conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Instrumental conditioning, also known as operant conditioning, involves learning to behave in ways that either bring pleasure or reduce the likelihood of aversive events. This type of conditioning involves the reinforcement of behaviors that are desirable and the punishment of behaviors that are undesirable. This process is often used in behavior modification programs and can be seen in everyday life, such as a child learning to clean up their toys in order to avoid getting in trouble with a parent.

Question 3

Which one of the following is the best example of intrinsic reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

Intrinsic reinforcement is when the reinforcement comes from within oneself, rather than from an external source. Feeling good about one's own generosity is an example of intrinsic reinforcement because the reinforcement comes from within oneself. The other options involve external rewards or praise.

Question 4

Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two learning paradigms within the behaviorist tradition. A major difference between these two paradigms is that:

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves learning to associate an unconditioned stimulus that already triggers a reflexive response with a new, conditioned stimulus, so that the new stimulus comes to trigger the response on its own. Operant conditioning, on the other hand, involves learning to associate a behavior with its consequences (rewards or punishments), which makes the behavior more or less likely to be repeated. Thus, classically conditioned responses are elicited by specific stimuli, and responses learned through operant conditioning are voluntary because they are based on the consequences of the behavior.

Question 5

Many operant conditioning theorists use the term reinforcement rather than "reward" because:

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement is a broader term that includes both positive and negative reinforcement, whereas "reward" implies a positive, desirable outcome.

Question 6

A child who was once spanked for running into a busy street no longer runs into the street. This can best be explained by which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

The answer of A child who was once spanked for...

Question 7

One effective educational practice is to chart students' progress over time so that students can see their improvement. These progress charts often lead to higher student achievement in the absence of other observable forms of reinforcement. The effectiveness of such charts in changing behavior illustrates the importance of reinforcement:

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement serves as a feedback mechanism that communicates to students whether their behavior is desirable or undesirable. Progress charts provide students with immediate feedback on their progress, which helps to reinforce their desired behavior and motivate them to continue doing well. The effectiveness of progress charts suggests that reinforcement through feedback can be a powerful tool in promoting student achievement. The other answer choices are not as relevant to the effectiveness of progress charts.

Question 8

Which one of the following is a primary reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A cookie is a primary reinforcer because it is an innately rewarding stimulus that satisfies a basic biological need, such as hunger or thirst. The other options may be considered secondary reinforcers because they acquire their value through association with a primary reinforcer or through social or cultural factors.

Question 9

Six-year-old Jack has recently learned to appreciate the value of money, so his father assigns him some simple housekeeping chores to be performed throughout the week. He tells Jack that completion of these chores will earn him an allowance of one dollar every Saturday. Jack rarely completes his chores. From an operant conditioning perspective, which one of the following is most likely to be the reason why Jack is not doing his chores?

Accepted Answer

According to operant conditioning, reinforcement should be immediate after the desired behavior to strengthen it. In this case, since the reinforcement (allowance) is only given on Saturdays, there is a delay in reinforcement which may be reducing the likelihood of Jack completing his chores consistently.

Question 10

Bill's behaviors in Ms. Kennedy's class are really distracting to other students. For example, he whispers to the boy beside him when Ms. Kennedy is giving directions on how to do any assignment. He flings paper clips at a girl across the room. He makes strange grunting noises that a few classmates find amusing. Ms. Kennedy glares at him or admonishes him whenever he behaves in a distracting way, yet his inappropriate behaviors are increasing rather than decreasing. Which one of the following interpretations of this situation best explains why Bill's behaviors are increasing?

Accepted Answer

Bill's behaviors are increasing despite Ms. Kennedy's admonishments, which suggests that he is being positively reinforced for them. This positive reinforcement could be coming from the attention that he is receiving from his classmates, who find his behaviors amusing. Additionally, Ms. Kennedy may unintentionally be reinforcing his behavior by frequently addressing him, even if it is to admonish him. This attention may be more reinforcing for Bill than the punishment he receives for his behavior.

Question 11

Good grades are reinforcing to some children but not to others. Someone explaining this fact from an early operant conditioning perspective would say that good grades are most likely to be reinforcers to children who:

Accepted Answer

According to operant conditioning principles, reinforcement is most effective when it has been previously associated with a primary reinforcer (such as food, water, or sex). Therefore, children who have previously associated good grades with primary reinforcers (such as praise from parents, teachers, or peers) are more likely to find them reinforcing. The other options do not necessarily have a clear connection to the principles of operant conditioning.

Question 12

Mr. Smart tells his students that they can do whatever they want for the first ten minutes of class but must then turn their attention to the day's assignment. The students are delighted with their ten minutes of free time but they don't attend to the assignment when it's time to do so. From an operant conditioning perspective, what mistake has Mr. Smart made?

Accepted Answer

Mr. Smart has presented the "reinforcer" (i.e. free time) before the students make the desired response (i.e. attending to the assignment). This type of reinforcement schedule is known as "premack principle" or "grandma's rule," and it has been shown to be less effective than presenting the reinforcer after the desired response has occurred.

Question 13

Three of the following are examples of operant conditioning. Which one is not?

Accepted Answer

Carol's behavior does not change despite the promise of a reward, indicating that operant conditioning is not effectively taking place.

Question 14

You are working with Jerome, a student in your classroom for whom the only effective reinforcer is something to eat, such as candy or raisins. You would like Jerome to find your praise reinforcing as well. From an operant conditioning perspective, your best strategy would be which one of the following?

Accepted Answer

By pairing praise with something reinforcing, like food, you can gradually increase the reinforcing value of praise over time. This process is known as "pairing and fading." Start by giving Jerome a piece of candy (or another food item he likes) and praising him at the same time. Over days or weeks, gradually reduce the amount of candy and increase the amount of praise until praise alone is enough to maintain his behavior.

Question 15

Which one of the following is the best example of a social reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A social reinforcer is a type of positive reinforcement that involves praise, attention, or approval from others. Being told that you did a good job is a clear example of social reinforcement. The other choices involve more tangible or personal rewards, such as new clothing or internal satisfaction.

Question 16

Thorndike's observations of a cat trying to escape from a puzzle box led him to conclude that learning is:

Accepted Answer

Thorndike concluded that learning is a gradual process that occurs through trial and error, as he observed the cat's behavior improving incrementally with repeated attempts.

Question 17

Which one of the following is the best example of the Premack principle in action?

Accepted Answer

The Premack principle states that a high probability behavior (in this case, playing basketball) can be used to reinforce a low probability behavior (in this case, completing homework). Therefore, being allowed to play basketball after completing homework is the best example of the Premack principle in action. The other options do not involve the reinforcement of a low probability behavior with a high probability behavior.

Question 18

In comparison with his original law of effect, Thorndike's revised law of effect:

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's revised law of effect de-emphasized the role of punishment, focusing more on the strengthening of responses by rewards rather than the weakening by punishments.

Question 19

Feedback about one's performance is most likely to be effective when it:

Accepted Answer

Feedback that provides information about how to improve is the most effective type of feedback. This type of feedback focuses on areas where the person can improve and gives specific suggestions for improvement. Feedback given immediately after the performance can also be helpful, but it is more important that the feedback be specific and provide meaningful suggestions for improvement. Describing only the things the person has done correctly may make the person feel good, but it does not give them any direction for improving their performance. Peer feedback can be helpful, but feedback from an authority figure who has expertise in the area being evaluated may be even more effective.

Question 20

Thorndike's original law of effect described the ways in which the learning of a response:

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's law of effect states that the consequences of a response affect the likelihood of that response occurring again in the future. Successful responses that lead to positive consequences are more likely to be repeated, while responses that lead to negative consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Quiz 4: Instrumental Conditioning