Question 1

Five-year-old Jasper is helping get ready for his family's Thanksgiving dinner by polishing the good silverware. If his mother gives him a dime for each piece he polishes, what kind of reinforcement schedule is she using?

Accepted Answer

Jasper is being reinforced on a fixed ratio schedule, as he receives a dime for each piece of silverware he polishes. To receive reinforcement, Jasper must complete a fixed number (ratio) of responses (polishing a piece of silverware).

Question 2

Aunt Bea gave Opie fried chicken livers every time he made his bed. Opie began making his bed more often than he used to. In this example, chicken livers are a __________ reinforcer.

Accepted Answer

Chicken livers are a primary reinforcer because they are inherently rewarding without the need for prior learning or association with other reinforcers.

Question 3

Which of the following is a primary reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

Water is a primary reinforcer because it is a basic need for survival and does not require any prior learning or experience to be reinforcing. Grades, money, and recognition are all considered secondary reinforcers because they require learning and association with a primary reinforcer in order to become reinforcing.

Question 4

You have a quiz in your psychology class every Friday. Your studying for quizzes is reinforced on what type of schedule?

Accepted Answer

The student's studying behavior is being reinforced on a fixed interval schedule because the reinforcement (getting a good grade on the quiz) only occurs after a set amount of time (each Friday). Fixed ratio and variable ratio schedules involve reinforcement after a certain number of behaviors, and variable interval schedules involve reinforcement after varying amounts of time, neither of which applies to this situation.

Question 5

Luna sees a sign on a farmer's fence that reads: HELP ME PICK STRAWBERRIES! FOR EVERY 5 QUARTS YOU PICK, KEEP ONE FOR YOURSELF. If Luna decides to pick strawberries for this farmer, she would be under a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

A fixed ratio schedule of reinforcement is defined as reinforcement being delivered after a specific number of responses. In this case, the farmer is reinforcing every 5th quart of strawberries picked, which is a fixed ratio schedule. The other options do not apply as they do not involve a specific number of responses or a specific amount of time passing before reinforcement is delivered.

Question 6

Research suggests that delayed reinforcement is __________ immediate reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Delayed reinforcement is less effective than immediate reinforcement because it is harder for individuals to connect the desired behavior with the reward if there is a delay between them. Immediate reinforcement provides an immediate reward for the behavior, making it easier for individuals to understand the connection and repeat the behavior in the future.

Question 7

Negative reinforcement is negative in the sense that __________.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal or avoidance of a negative reinforcer (such as an unpleasant stimulus) in response to a behavior, which increases the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future. The "negative" aspect refers to the removal or avoidance of the negative reinforcer, not the delivery of a consequence in a negative manner. Also, negative reinforcement often strengthens, not weakens, behaviors.

Question 8

On a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement is given for the __________.

Accepted Answer

On a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses have been made. This creates a pattern of high response rate and brief pauses after reinforcement.

Question 9

Willow doesn't like her psychology class because the instructor uses unannounced pop exams to test the class. As a result, she never knows when she will be tested. Willow's instructor is testing her on a __________ schedule.

Accepted Answer

Willow's instructor is using unannounced pop exams, which means the tests are given after a variable amount of time has passed. This is an example of a variable interval schedule. The other options do not fit the description of Willow's situation. A fixed ratio schedule would involve a set number of exams before a reward is given, a fixed interval schedule would involve exams given at set intervals of time, and a variable ratio schedule would involve an unpredictable number of exams before a reward is given.

Question 10

Which schedule of reinforcement is programmed into slot machines?

Accepted Answer

Slot machines use a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, meaning that the number of times a player has to play before receiving a payout is unpredictable and variable. This keeps players motivated to keep playing, as they do not know when the next payout will occur.

Question 11

Noelle's favorite activity is to go to Las Vegas and play the slot machines. Her gambling behavior is being reinforced on a __________ schedule.

Accepted Answer

A variable ratio schedule reinforces behavior after an unpredictable number of responses, which is common in gambling.

Question 12

Your calculus professor informed you at the beginning of the term that you will have eight tests-but they will all be unannounced. This is most similar to a __________ reinforcement schedule.

Accepted Answer

The fact that the tests are unannounced means that there is no set time interval between tests (as in fixed interval) or set number of tests before reinforcement (as in fixed ratio or variable ratio). The only consistent factor is that the reinforcement (test) occurs at a variable interval of time.

Question 13

On a variable interval schedule, reinforcement is given for the __________.

Accepted Answer

On a variable interval schedule, reinforcement is given for the first correct response after varying amounts of time have passed. This type of schedule tends to produce a steady rate of responding with fewer pauses than fixed interval schedules.

Question 14

The schedule of reinforcement that yields the slowest increase in a behavior and the fastest extinction of the behavior when the schedule is stopped is __________.

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement (B) yields the fastest increase in behavior but also the fastest extinction when the reward is removed because the behavior has only been reinforced in the presence of the reward. Partial reinforcement (C) yields a slower increase in behavior but a slower extinction rate because the behavior has been reinforced intermittently and the subject is less likely to perceive that the reward has been removed. Variable ratio (A) and fixed interval (D) schedules are both partial reinforcement schedules and do not necessarily result in the slowest increase or fastest extinction of behavior.

Question 15

On a variable ratio schedule, reinforcement is given for the __________.

Accepted Answer

On a variable ratio schedule, reinforcement is given after a varying number of responses have been made. This schedule is known for producing high rates of responding and persistent behavior.

Question 16

On a fixed interval schedule, reinforcement is given for the __________.

Accepted Answer

On a fixed interval schedule, reinforcement is given for the first correct response after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Question 17

Which of the following is a conditioned positive reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

Money is a conditioned positive reinforcer because it acquires its reinforcing properties through association with other primary reinforcers (such as food, shelter, etc.) or through social and cultural forces. For example, if someone consistently receives money as a reward for performing a task, they may start to view money as a desirable outcome and may be more motivated to perform that task in the future.

Question 18

The only vending machine in your dorm is notorious for delivering its merchandise only occasionally when people put money in it. This is most similar to a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

A variable ratio schedule of reinforcement delivers rewards after an unpredictable number of responses. This unpredictability is similar to the vending machine's occasional delivery of merchandise, making it most similar to a variable ratio schedule. Fixed interval and fixed ratio schedules involve predictable patterns, and a variable interval schedule involves time, not the number of responses.

Question 19

Maisie spends a lot of time at the race track betting on ponies, and occasionally she wins. The frequency of her betting is controlled by which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Maisie's frequency of betting is controlled by a partial schedule of reinforcement, as she is not winning every time she bets but occasionally receives a reward. This intermittent reinforcement schedule is known to be particularly effective in maintaining behaviors. Luck may play a role in her occasional wins, but it is not a controlled factor in her betting frequency. Fixed ratio schedules and continuous reinforcement schedules are not applicable in this scenario.

Question 20

A very high rate of responding is produced by a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio schedules of reinforcement yield the highest and most consistent response rates. This is because the reinforcement is based on the number of responses made, rather than the amount of time passed (fixed interval) or the number of responses needed to receive reinforcement (fixed ratio). With variable ratio schedules, the reinforcement is given after a varying and unpredictable number of responses, making the behavior more resistant to extinction.

Quiz 5: Learning