Question 1

Punishment strategies can be effective when the managers focus on the undesirable behaviour rather than the characteristics of the person.

Accepted Answer

Punishment strategies that focus on the negative behavior rather than the person's characteristics can be effective in encouraging positive behavior changes. It is important to separate the behavior from the individual and provide clear consequences for negative actions.

Question 2

Continuous reinforcement administers a reward each time a desired behaviour occurs.

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement involves rewarding a desired behavior each time it occurs, providing consistent positive reinforcement.

Question 3

To use punishment effectively, managers should tell the individual what is being done wrong but not what is being done right.

Accepted Answer

Effective use of punishment involves not only pointing out what is being done wrong but also guiding the individual towards the correct behavior, which includes acknowledging and reinforcing what is being done right.

Question 4

An operant conditioning strategy designed to eliminate or decrease the frequency of a behaviour by making an unpleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called negative reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus in response to a desired behaviour, whereas the scenario described in the question refers to punishment. Punishment involves applying an unpleasant consequence to decrease the frequency of a behaviour.

Question 5

Operant conditioning is the process of applying the law of effect to control behaviour by manipulating its consequences.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is based on the principle that behaviour is shaped by its consequences, specifically the rewards and punishments that follow it. By manipulating these consequences, you can control or modify behaviour over time. This process is known as operant conditioning.

Question 6

The law of immediate reinforcement advises managers to use both punishment and positive reinforcement to gain maximum impact on behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The law of immediate reinforcement actually advises managers to focus solely on positive reinforcement to gain maximum impact on behaviour. Punishment is not recommended as it can lead to negative consequences and may not be effective in changing behaviour in the long term.

Question 7

A manager can punish an employee by administering an unpleasant outcome, such as a verbal reprimand, pay reduction, or demotion.

Accepted Answer

A manager has the authority to punish an employee through various means including verbal reprimand or disciplinary measures like pay reduction or demotion.

Question 8

The law of contingent reinforcement advises managers to give rewards as soon as possible following the occurrence of a desirable behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The law of contingent reinforcement advises managers...

Question 9

The law of contingent reinforcement advises managers to give rewards only if the desired behaviour is exhibited.

Accepted Answer

The law of contingent reinforcement suggests that rewards should be given only when the desired behavior is exhibited, not for any other behavior. This ensures that the reinforcement is contingent on the desired behavior, increasing the likelihood that the behavior will be repeated.

Question 10

To use positive reinforcement effectively, managers should recognize individual differences in allocating rewards and inform everyone what must be done to get rewards.

Accepted Answer

This statement is true. Effective use of positive reinforcement requires a clear understanding of individual differences in what motivates people and what they consider to be rewarding. Additionally, it is important for managers to communicate to everyone in the organization what behaviors are expected to be rewarded and how they will be rewarded.

Question 11

A manager who has been nagging a worker every day about tardiness and doesn't comment when the worker comes to work on time one day is using negative reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus (nagging) when the desired behavior (coming to work on time) occurs, thereby increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated.

Question 12

An intermittent reinforcement schedule works best to draw forth a desired behaviour.

Accepted Answer

The answer of An intermittent reinforcement schedule works best to...

Question 13

To use punishment effectively, managers should make sure the punishment matches the behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Punishments should be appropriate for the behavior being punished. For example, a small mistake may warrant a verbal warning, while a serious offense may require suspension or termination. Matching the punishment to the behavior helps to ensure that it is perceived as fair and effective in discouraging future misconduct.

Question 14

The law of effect states that the effects of an environmental response can be determined by monitoring behaviours.

Accepted Answer

The law of effect, proposed by Edward Thorndike, states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors followed by unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated. It does not focus on determining the effects of an environmental response by monitoring behaviors, but rather on how the consequences of actions influence the likelihood of those actions being repeated.

Question 15

Extinction strategies are employed to strengthen or increase the frequency of desirable behaviour.

Accepted Answer

Extinction strategies are used to decrease or eliminate undesirable behavior, not strengthen or increase desirable behavior.

Question 16

Clearly identifying work behaviours and maintaining a diverse inventory of rewards are two examples of positive reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

The statement is true. Identifying work behaviours and having a variety of rewards to reinforce positive behaviour are both examples of positive reinforcement strategies.

Question 17

An operant conditioning strategy designed to strengthen or increase the frequency of behaviour by making the avoidance of an unpleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called punishment.

Accepted Answer

This description refers to negative reinforcement, not punishment. Negative reinforcement increases the frequency of a behavior by removing or avoiding an unpleasant consequence, whereas punishment aims to decrease a behavior by introducing an unpleasant consequence.

Question 18

An operant conditioning strategy designed to strengthen or increase the frequency of behaviour by making a pleasant consequence contingent on the occurrence of the behaviour is called positive reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

This is the definition of positive reinforcement.

Question 19

To use punishment effectively, managers should punish openly and in public.

Accepted Answer

Punishing openly and in public can create a negative work environment and can also lead to humiliation and resentment among employees. It is important to use punishment as a last resort and in a respectful and private manner.

Question 20

The creation of a new behaviour by the positive reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired behaviour is called progression.

Accepted Answer

The creation of a new behaviour by the positive reinforcement of successive approximations to the desired behaviour is called shaping.

Quiz 16: Motivation Theory and Practice