Deck 13: Choice

Question 1

Cases in which people choose a small immediate reinforcer instead of a larger delay reinforcer can be viewed as evidence

A)against optimization theory
B)against momentary maximizing theory
C)against the Ainslie-Rachlin theory
D)supporting optimization theory

Answer 1

A

Question 2

Experiments have shown that in situations where optimization theory predicts one behavior and the matching law predicts another,

A)animals usually behave as the matching law predicts.
B)animals usually behave as optimization theory predicts.
C)animals shift back and forth,sometimes following the matching law and sometimes optimization theory.
D)people follow the matching law but animals do not.

Answer 2

A

Question 3

An individual must make a choice between a small reinforcer and a larger but more delayed reinforcer.If the individual is forced to make a commitment well in advance of when the options will be delivered,the individual will be

A)more unpredictable
B)more likely to choose the small reinforcer
C)more likely to choose the large reinforcer
D)none of the above

Answer 3

C

Question 4

Herrnstein has applied the matching law to situations where a subject responds on VI schedules of different sizes,but only one schedule is presented at a time.He assumed that if the reinforcement for extraneous behaviors is increased

A)the subject's maximum possible response rate does not change
B)response rate on the VI schedule should decrease
C)both a and b
D)neither a nor b

Question 5

According to optimization theory,if presented with concurrent VR 20 and VR 60 schedules,what percentage of a subject's responses will be made on the VR 20 schedule-

A)100%
B)75%
C)0%
D)either a or c

Question 6

In phase 1 of a choice experiment involving concurrent VI schedules,a human subject receives 25% of his reinforcers by making a left response.In phase 2,he receives 75% of his reinforcers by making a left response.The subject's percentage of left responses is 40% in phase 1,and 60% in phase 2.This performance is an example of

A)matching
B)undermatching
C)overmatching
D)bias

Question 7

According to melioration theory,if presented with concurrent VR 20 and VR 60 schedules,what percentage of a subject's responses will be made on the VR 20 schedule-

A)100%
B)75%
C)0%
D)either a or c

Question 8

Pigeons are more likely to choose a more desirable but delayed reinforcer instead of an immediate but less desirable reinforcer if

A)both reinforcers are visible during the delay period
B)stimuli associated with the reinforcers are present during the delay period
C)some other,irrelevant behavior can be performed during the delay period
D)all of the above

Question 9

Studies with animals have shown that in a self-control situation,the use of a precommitment procedure is more effective in increasing the number of large-reinforcer choices if

A)there is no delay between the precommitment period and the delivery of either reinforcer
B)there is a long delay between the precommitment period and the delivery of either reinforcer
C)the small immediate reinforcer is visible during the precommitment period
D)the animal is distracted during the preocommitment period

Question 10

According to the matching law,if presented with concurrent VR 20 and VR 60 schedules,what percentage of a subject's responses will be made on the VR 20 schedule-

A)100%
B)75%
C)0%
D)either a or c

Question 11

Children are more likely to choose a more desirable but delayed reinforcer over an immediate but less desirable reinforcer if

A)both reinforcers are visible during the delay period
B)stimuli associated with the reinforcers are present during the delay period
C)some other,irrelevant behavior can be performed during the delay period
D)all of the above

Question 12

A pigeon responds on a concurrent VI 60-second VI 60-second schedule.If this animal's behavior roughly follows the matching law,it will probably receive

A)about 60 reinforcers per hour
B)about 120 reinforcers per hour
C)slightly less than 60 reinforcers per hour
D)slightly less than 120 reinforcers per hour

Question 13

According to momentary maximization theory,in a concurrent VI VI situation,a subject will

A)show exclusive preference for the better VI schedule
B)respond randomly on a moment-to-moment basis
C)switch quickly from the poorer VI to the better VI,but switch slowly form the better VI to the poorer VI
D)none of the above

Question 14

In phase 1 of a choice experiment involving concurrent VI schedules,a human subject receives 25% of his reinforcers by making a left response.In phase 2,he receives 75% of his reinforcers by making a left response.The subject's percentage of left responses is 35% in phase 1,and 95% in phase 2.This performance is an example of

A)matching
B)undermatching
C)overmatching
D)bias

Question 15

In phase 1 of a choice experiment involving concurrent VI schedules,a human subject receives 25% of his reinforcers by making a left response.In phase 2,he receives 75% of his reinforcers by making a left response.The subject's percentage of left responses is 15% in phase 1,and 81% in phase 2.This performance is an example of

A)matching
B)undermatching
C)overmatching
D)bias

Question 16

A self-control choice is a choice between a _______ reinforcer and a _______ reinforcer.

A)small and immediate;large and delayed
B)small and delayed;large and immediate
C)small and risky;large and guaranteed
D)immediate and guaranteed;delayed and risky

Question 17

To apply the matching law to cases where the researcher presents only one reinforcement schedule,such as a VI schedule with food reinforcement,Herrnstein assumed that

A)the subject will devote all its time to this schedule
B)the subject chooses between this schedule and extraneous reinforcers in the environment
C)the subject's responding will not change if the rate of reinforcement is varied
D)none of the above

Question 18

The matching law has been applied to choice situations where the two options differ in

A)rate of reinforcement
B)amount of reinforcement
C)quality of reinforcement
D)all of the above

Question 19

In a concurrent VI VI situation,a subject has just switched from the poorer VI to the better VI.Momentary maximizing theory predicts that as time passes,the likelihood of a switch back to the other VI

A)will increase
B)will decrease
C)will remain constant
D)will first increase then decrease

Question 20

In a two-choice situation for pigeons,the left key has a VI schedule that delivers 60 reinforcers per hour,and the right key has a VI schedule that delivers 20 reinforcers per hour.The matching law predicts that a pigeon will make _______ of its responses on the left key.

A)25%
B)50%
C)75%
D)100%

Question 21

According to Caraco's theory about risk taking,animals are

A)more risk prone when food is scarce
B)more risk prone when food is plentiful
C)more risk averse when they are hungry
D)none of the above

Question 22

A strategy not advisable for a person who wants to stop spending money impulsively is

A)destroy your credit cards
B)do not bring a lot of money when you go shopping
C)carry a picture of some expensive item for which you are saving in your wallet
D)never make a shopping list

Question 23

A strategy not advisable for a person who wants to lose weight is

A)purchase only foods that are low in calories
B)purchase only foods that can be prepared quickly
C)reinforce yourself with some non-food item or activity for passing up dessert
D)put pictures or other stimuli around the kitchen to remind you of your long-term goal

Question 24

The tragedy of the commons can be averted by

A)setting legal limits on how much the community's resources can be used
B)charging fees for the use of the community's resources
C)encouraging individuals to consider the long-term consequences of their actions for the community as a whole
D)all of the above

Question 25

The tragedy of the commons arises in situations where

A)individuals place no value on the resources of the community
B)individuals seek to maximize their personal gains
C)the behavior of a single individual has no effect on the community's resources
D)all of the above