Question 1

Henri got a bad sunburn on his face when he was skiing last winter.Now before he starts a day of skiing,he uses sunscreen on his face to prevent another sunburn.What is the consequence of using sunscreen in this case

Accepted Answer

By using sunscreen, Henri is engaging in avoidance behavior, which means he is actively trying to prevent a negative consequence (getting another sunburn) from occurring.

Question 2

The newest winning numbers in the lottery are announced on the local television station every Saturday night at the end of the news hour.On which reinforcement schedule will people who are watching for the lottery numbers have their "watching" reinforced

Accepted Answer

The reinforcement schedule for watching the lottery numbers announced at a predictable, set time (every Saturday night at the end of the news hour) is a fixed-interval schedule. This is because the reinforcement (finding out the lottery numbers) occurs after a fixed amount of time has passed.

Question 3

Suppose that a subject is shifted from a low fixed-ratio schedule (few responses required to earn a reinforcer)to a higher fixed-ratio schedule (more responses required to earn a reinforcer).What is most likely to be the result

Accepted Answer

An increase in the overall rate of responding is most likely to be the result of shifting from a low fixed-ratio schedule to a higher fixed-ratio schedule. This is because the subject will need to work harder to earn the reinforcer, and will therefore respond more quickly in order to get the reinforcer sooner.

Question 4

McKenna had an unplanned pregnancy when she was 19 years old.Following her pregnancy,McKenna started taking a birth control pill each day to prevent another pregnancy.What does this example illustrate

Accepted Answer

Preventing a pregnancy (aversive stimulus) is acting as a negative reinforcer for taking birth control pills. By avoiding another unplanned pregnancy, McKenna is being reinforced for taking her birth control pills consistently.

Question 5

Tessa really likes to play video games on Saturdays,but her parents will let her play video games only if all the dishes are washed.Consequently,every Saturday morning Tessa has the table cleared and the dishes washed as soon as everyone has finished breakfast.Which statement best describes this situation

Accepted Answer

Playing video games acts as a positive reinforcer for doing the dishes because it is a desirable outcome that encourages Tessa to complete the task of washing the dishes.

Question 6

Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is an example...

Question 7

One rat has earned 50 food pellets during a session of conditioning on a fixed reinforcement schedule,and a second rat has earned 50 food pellets during a session of conditioning on a variable schedule of reinforcement.What should you predict about the behaviour of the second rat,on the variable schedule

Accepted Answer

Variable schedules of reinforcement typically lead to steadier response rates and greater resistance to extinction compared to fixed schedules. This is because the unpredictability of reinforcement under variable schedules maintains consistent responding, as the subject cannot predict when the next reinforcement will come.

Question 8

A rat is placed on one side of a two-compartment shuttle box.For each trial,a light is turned on and is followed ten seconds later by a painful electric shock for one minute.The rat can escape the shock by jumping a barrier into the other compartment.What behaviour would provide evidence of avoidance learning

Accepted Answer

The rat jumping over the barrier when the light is turned on demonstrates avoidance learning because it indicates that the rat has learned to associate the light (a conditioned stimulus) with the impending shock (an unconditioned stimulus) and takes action to avoid the shock before it begins.

Question 9

Your roommate has not cleaned the bathroom in a month.You begin yelling at her to clean the bathroom.She begins to clean up,and you stop yelling.How could your roommate's behaviour be described in this situation

Accepted Answer

Your roommate's behavior is an example of escape responding because she begins to clean the bathroom to escape or end the unpleasant situation of being yelled at.

Question 10

Maarit takes a course in which she is tested every two weeks.Her studying stops right after a test,followed by a gradual increase to a rapid rate of studying as the next test approaches.Which schedule of reinforcement is consistent with this example

Accepted Answer

The schedule of reinforcement in this example is consistent with the fixed-interval schedule. This is because the reinforcement (the test) occurs after a fixed amount of time (two weeks), regardless of how much studying occurs during that time. The gradual increase in studying before the test is often referred to as a "scalloped" pattern of responding, which is characteristic of fixed-interval schedules. Variable-ratio schedules involve reinforcement after a varying number of responses, which is not applicable in this scenario. Variable-interval schedules involve reinforcement after varying amounts of time, which is also not applicable here. Fixed-ratio schedules involve reinforcement after a fixed number of responses, which does not apply to the time-based nature of this scenario.

Question 11

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets.The rat pauses for a long time after each food pellet is delivered,but slowly increases its rate of lever pressing as more time elapses.Which reinforcement schedule is likely in place in this example

Accepted Answer

This behavior is indicative of a fixed-interval schedule, where rewards are given after a set period of time has passed, leading to a pause after receiving the reward and then an increase in behavior as the time for the next reward approaches.

Question 12

What is the difference between a student who studies in order to earn high grades,and a student who studies to avoid failure

Accepted Answer

The student who studies to avoid failing is motivated by negative reinforcement, which involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus (the possibility of failing) to increase a behavior (studying). This is different from seeking positive outcomes like high grades, which is not specifically about avoiding a negative outcome.

Question 13

What occurs in escape learning

Accepted Answer

In escape learning, an organism learns to engage in a response (such as running away or hiding) that brings an aversive stimulation (such as pain or fear) to an end. The focus is on removing already existing aversive stimulation rather than preventing it from occurring in the first place (as in avoidance learning). Option B describes observational learning, Option C describes avoidance learning and Option D describes classical conditioning.

Question 14

When Skyler was first training his dog,Smooches,to heel,he would give Smooches a treat when she stayed close during walks.Now Smooches stays right by Skyler's side,even when she is not on her leash.Which statement best describes this situation

Accepted Answer

The dog treats served as a positive reinforcer for staying close to Skyler during walks. This means that the behavior of staying close was strengthened or increased by the presence of the treats. Over time, Smooches became conditioned to staying close to Skyler without the need for a treat, which demonstrates the effectiveness of positive reinforcement in dog training.

Question 15

Steve is a professional basketball player.He never knows for sure which of his shots will result in a basket,but the more shots he takes,the more baskets he makes.How is Steve's shooting reinforced in this example

Accepted Answer

Steve's shooting is being reinforced on a variable-ratio schedule because he never knows for sure which shots will result in a basket, but he knows that the more shots he takes, the more baskets he will make. This is a form of reinforcement where the number of responses required for a reinforcement varies, making it unpredictable and more effective in maintaining behavior.

Question 16

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets.The rat is pressing the lever at a very high rate and does not stop,even when a food pellet is delivered.Which type of reinforcement schedule is likely in place in this example

Accepted Answer

Variable-ratio schedules tend to produce high and steady rates of responding because the reinforcement is based on the number of responses, but unpredictably so. The rat doesn't know which lever press will bring the next food pellet, encouraging continuous pressing.

Question 17

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves removing an aversive stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future. In this case, stopping nagging is the removal of an aversive stimulus, which increases the likelihood that the child will clean his room again in the future.

Question 18

What does negative reinforcement involve

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement involves the removal of an unpleasant stimulus in order to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future.

Question 19

Josiah checks his text messages quite often throughout the day.Some days there is a text each time he checks; sometimes several hours go by with no new messages arriving.How is Josiah's behaviour of checking his messages being reinforced in this example

Accepted Answer

Josiah's behaviour of checking his messages is being reinforced on a variable-interval schedule because the reinforcement (new text message) is given after an unpredictable amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement, which is when a new message arrived. This type of schedule tends to create consistent responding because the person will continue to check their messages in anticipation of a possible reinforcement, even if they don't know exactly when it will come.

Question 20

You are watching a rat pressing a lever in a Skinner box to obtain food pellets.The rat is pressing the lever at a slow,steady rate,but it does not really stop for long,even when a food pellet is delivered.Which reinforcement schedule is likely in place in this example

Accepted Answer

The behavior described fits a variable-interval schedule, where reinforcements (food pellets) are given after unpredictable time intervals. This leads to a moderate, steady rate of response because the rat cannot predict when the next reinforcement will come, unlike fixed schedules where the timing or number of responses required for reinforcement is predictable.

Quiz 6: A: Learning