Question 1

Skinner's method of studying learning is known as a:

Accepted Answer

Skinner's method of studying learning is called the free-operant paradigm, which involves allowing the subject to freely respond to the environment and measuring the frequency and patterning of those responses. This is in contrast to the discrete-trial paradigm, which involves presenting specific stimuli and measuring the response to those stimuli. The other options (behavioral economics method and drive-reduction paradigm) are not specifically associated with Skinner's approach to studying learning.

Question 2

For punishment to be MOST effective:

Accepted Answer

C

Question 3

Using an umbrella when it rains allows you to escape from getting wet.In this case,the stimulus is _______,the response is ______,_and the outcome is _______.

Accepted Answer

The stimulus is the rain, prompting the response of using an umbrella, which results in the outcome of staying dry.

Question 4

Which of the following demonstrates use of a token economy to encourage good behavior in school children?

Accepted Answer

Awarding children points for good behavior, which they can exchange at the end of the day for small toys, is an example of a token economy. Token economies use tokens, such as stickers or points, to reinforce desired behaviors and encourage positive behavior change. The tokens are exchangeable for rewards or privileges, which helps incentivize good behavior.

Question 5

If the lights are on in a diner,a potential customer can be pretty sure that opening the door to the diner and sitting down will lead to being served a meal.The discriminative stimulus in this example is:

Accepted Answer

The discriminative stimulus is the specific environmental cue or signal that indicates the appropriate response or behavior to be performed. In this example, the presence of the illuminated lights in the diner serves as the discriminative stimulus because it signals to potential customers that the business is open and ready to serve them. This signal is necessary for the appropriate behavior of entering the diner and sitting down to order a meal. Therefore, the correct choice for the discriminative stimulus in this example is C - the lights being on.

Question 6

In the case of Thorndike's cats learning to escape from a puzzle box,the stimulus (S)was ______ and the response (R)was ________.

Accepted Answer

The stimulus in Thorndike's experiment was the puzzle box, which presented a problem for the cats to solve. The response was the cats' movements that opened the door of the box, which allowed them to escape. The escaping and getting food was a consequence of the response and not the response itself. Option C correctly identifies the stimulus and the response.

Question 7

If you wanted to use shaping to train your new puppy to come when you call her name,you would call her name and then:

Accepted Answer

Using shaping involves breaking down the desired behavior into achievable steps and rewarding each incremental improvement. In this scenario, calling the puppy's name may be the first step, but rewarding her for simply coming all the way to you may be too big of a jump. Starting with rewarding her for looking at you, then turning towards you, and then taking a few steps in your direction will help the puppy learn what is expected of her and make the final behavior (coming all the way to you) easier to achieve.

Question 8

In what way does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning and classical conditioning differ in terms of consequences. In classical conditioning, the consequence (usually a stimulus) is presented regardless of the animal's behavior, while in operant conditioning, the consequence (reward or punishment) only arrives once the animal has made a response. In classical conditioning, extinction can occur when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without the unconditioned stimulus, but in operant conditioning, extinction occurs when the consequence (reward or punishment) is no longer delivered for a particular behavior. Option A is incorrect because both types of conditioning can show faster learning during later trials (known as the learning curve). Option C is incorrect because operant conditioning can be used to train animals to make responses they would not normally make, such as teaching a rat to press a lever for food. Option D is incorrect because both types of conditioning can undergo extinction.

Question 9

In the following graph,the last 13 minutes of trials demonstrate:

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the following graph,the last 13 minutes...

Question 10

Which of the following is an example of a primary reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A primary reinforcer is a stimulus that satisfies a biologically determined need, such as food, water, or sleep. Of the given options, only water satisfies this definition, making it the only example of a primary reinforcer. Money, praise, and grades are all examples of secondary reinforcers, which are only reinforcing because they have been associated with primary reinforcers through conditioning.

Question 11

According to the law of effect,which of the following would lead to a weakening of the association between stimulus and response?

Accepted Answer

The law of effect states that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences are less likely to occur. Grounding a teenager for staying out too late is a punishment, which is an unfavorable consequence, leading to a weakening of the behavior.

Question 12

Which of the following demonstrates operant rather than classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A car salesperson receiving a bonus for good work is an example of operant conditioning. The salesperson's behavior (working hard at selling cars) is reinforced with the bonus, which increases the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. Classical conditioning would involve pairing a naturally occurring stimulus (such as food) with a previously neutral stimulus (such as a bell) to create a conditioned response (such as salivating at the sound of the bell). Choices B, C, and D all demonstrate classical conditioning.

Question 13

Which of the following is true about shaping?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which of the following is true about...

Question 14

Which of the following demonstrates the free-operant paradigm?

Accepted Answer

The free-operant paradigm involves allowing the subject to behave freely and make choices within the experimental context. In this case, the rat in a Skinner box can press a bar at any time to receive a food reward, allowing for free and voluntary behavior. The other options (A, B, and D) involve predetermined outcomes and do not allow for free-operant behavior.

Question 15

After working for $15 an hour,Sally's pay was cut to $8 an hour.She stopped working so hard,working much less than her coworkers,who had been earning $8 an hour all along.This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negative contrast occurs when a decrease in the quality or quantity of a positive stimulus leads to a decrease in response to a less desirable stimulus, as in this case where Sally's reduced pay led to decreased motivation and effort compared to her coworkers who were earning the same wage all along.

Question 16

June normally takes the elevator to her office on the 8^th floor.Today,she was supposed to go up first to the 10^th floor to pick up some files,but she automatically got off at the 8^th floor.June exhibited:

Accepted Answer

June's action of getting off at her usual floor, instead of the intended one, is an example of a habit slip. It is a mistake made when a person unintentionally repeats a habit or routine, despite intending to do something else.

Question 17

The process of providing consequences for a behavior that decrease the probability of that behavior is called:

Accepted Answer

Punishment is a consequence that decreases the probability of a behavior. Reinforcement, on the other hand, increases the probability of a behavior. Discrete-trial learning and free-operant learning are both methods of teaching and shaping behavior, but do not specifically refer to consequences that decrease the probability of a behavior.

Question 18

Chaining involves ________,whereas shaping involves ________.

Accepted Answer

Chaining involves training individual components of a complex response and shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior. So, the best choice is D.

Question 19

The main difference between reinforcement and punishment is that punishment:

Accepted Answer

Punishment is intended to decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, while reinforcement is intended to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a secondary reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

Secondary reinforcers are stimuli that acquire their reinforcing power through their association with primary reinforcers. Money is a good example of a secondary reinforcer as it provides an individual with access to primary reinforcers such as food, shelter, and clothing.

Quiz 5: Operant Conditioning: Learning the Outcome of Behaviors

Skinner's method of studying learning is known as a:

For punishment to be MOST effective:

Using an umbrella when it rains allows you to escape from getting wet.In this case,the stimulus is _,the response is ,_and the outcome is _______.

Which of the following demonstrates use of a token economy to encourage good behavior in school children?

If the lights are on in a diner,a potential customer can be pretty sure that opening the door to the diner and sitting down will lead to being served a meal.The discriminative stimulus in this example is:

In the case of Thorndike's cats learning to escape from a puzzle box,the stimulus (S) was and the response (R) was __.

If you wanted to use shaping to train your new puppy to come when you call her name,you would call her name and then:

In what way does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

In the following graph,the last 13 minutes of trials demonstrate:

Which of the following is an example of a primary reinforcer?

According to the law of effect,which of the following would lead to a weakening of the association between stimulus and response?

Which of the following demonstrates operant rather than classical conditioning?

Which of the following is true about shaping?

Which of the following demonstrates the free-operant paradigm?

After working for $15 an hour,Sally's pay was cut to $8 an hour.She stopped working so hard,working much less than her coworkers,who had been earning $8 an hour all along.This is an example of:

June normally takes the elevator to her office on the 8^th floor.Today,she was supposed to go up first to the 10^th floor to pick up some files,but she automatically got off at the 8^th floor.June exhibited:

The process of providing consequences for a behavior that decrease the probability of that behavior is called:

Chaining involves ,whereas shaping involves .

The main difference between reinforcement and punishment is that punishment:

Which of the following is an example of a secondary reinforcer?

Quiz 5: Operant Conditioning: Learning the Outcome of Behaviors

Skinner's method of studying learning is known as a:

For punishment to be MOST effective:

Using an umbrella when it rains allows you to escape from getting wet.In this case,the stimulus is _______,the response is ______,_and the outcome is _______.

Which of the following demonstrates use of a token economy to encourage good behavior in school children?

If the lights are on in a diner,a potential customer can be pretty sure that opening the door to the diner and sitting down will lead to being served a meal.The discriminative stimulus in this example is:

In the case of Thorndike's cats learning to escape from a puzzle box,the stimulus (S) was ______ and the response (R) was ________.

If you wanted to use shaping to train your new puppy to come when you call her name,you would call her name and then:

In what way does operant conditioning differ from classical conditioning?

In the following graph,the last 13 minutes of trials demonstrate:

Which of the following is an example of a primary reinforcer?

According to the law of effect,which of the following would lead to a weakening of the association between stimulus and response?

Which of the following demonstrates operant rather than classical conditioning?

Which of the following is true about shaping?

Which of the following demonstrates the free-operant paradigm?

After working for $15 an hour,Sally's pay was cut to $8 an hour.She stopped working so hard,working much less than her coworkers,who had been earning $8 an hour all along.This is an example of:

June normally takes the elevator to her office on the 8th floor.Today,she was supposed to go up first to the 10th floor to pick up some files,but she automatically got off at the 8th floor.June exhibited:

The process of providing consequences for a behavior that decrease the probability of that behavior is called:

Chaining involves ________,whereas shaping involves ________.

The main difference between reinforcement and punishment is that punishment:

Which of the following is an example of a secondary reinforcer?

Using an umbrella when it rains allows you to escape from getting wet.In this case,the stimulus is _,the response is ,_and the outcome is _______.

In the case of Thorndike's cats learning to escape from a puzzle box,the stimulus (S) was and the response (R) was __.

June normally takes the elevator to her office on the 8^th floor.Today,she was supposed to go up first to the 10^th floor to pick up some files,but she automatically got off at the 8^th floor.June exhibited:

Chaining involves ,whereas shaping involves .