Question 1

Of the following,which is the BEST description of Pavlov's accidental discovery?
A) The dogs learned a reflexive response (salivating)to a stimulus (food).
B) The dogs learned a reflexive response (salivating)to a neutral stimulus (laboratory attendant).
C) A neutral stimulus (laboratory attendant)rewarded the dogs by giving them a reflexive stimulus (food).
D) A reflexive response (salivating)became associated with a neutral stimulus (laboratory attendant).

Accepted Answer

Pavlov accidentally discovered classical conditioning when he observed that a reflexive response (salivating) became associated with a neutral stimulus (the sound of a bell) that was consistently paired with a naturally occurring stimulus (food). Option D best reflects this accidental discovery.

Question 2

A buzzing sound is followed by an electric shock to the hands.After several repetitions,subjects jerk their hands away when they hear the buzzer.In this example,what is the conditioned stimulus?
A) subjects jerking their hands away
B) the buzzer
C) fear of the shock
D) the electric shock

Accepted Answer

The buzzer is the conditioned stimulus because it is what is being associated with the electric shock, causing the subjects to react in a certain way.

Question 3

Peter is punched by several bullies at school.Now,whenever a bully merely swings his fist at Peter,Peter winces.In this example,the conditioned stimulus is:
A) pain from being punched.
B) the punch.
C) a hand moving in the air.
D) wincing.

Accepted Answer

The conditioned stimulus is a hand moving in the air because Peter has learned to associate this action with the pain of being punched, leading him to wince even if he is not actually hit.

Question 4

Which of the following phrases most closely matches psychology's definition of learning?
A) changing behavior
B) becoming educated
C) acquiring understanding
D) studying

Accepted Answer

Psychology defines learning as a change in behavior that results from experience or practice.

Question 5

In Pavlov's classic experiments with dogs,the laboratory attendant had become a(n):
A) conditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned stimulus.
D) unconditioned response.

Accepted Answer

In Pavlov's classic experiments with dogs, the laboratory attendant was paired with the presentation of food (unconditioned stimulus). Over time, the dogs began to salivate at the mere sight of the attendant, even in the absence of food. In this way, the laboratory attendant became a conditioned stimulus that elicited the conditioned response (salivation).

Question 6

A stimulus that automatically elicits a response with no prior learning is a(n):
A) neutral stimulus
B) conditioned stimulus
C) generalized stimulus
D) unconditioned stimulus

Accepted Answer

An unconditioned stimulus is a stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response, without any prior learning.

Question 7

In Pavlov's studies,Pavlov realized that the dogs had learned to associate:
A) food with salivating.
B) food with getting treats.
C) the sight of the attendant with food.
D) barking with getting food.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's studies on classical conditioning demonstrated that dogs learned to associate the sight of the attendant (who fed them) with food, leading them to salivate in anticipation of food even before it was presented.

Question 8

Which of the following is psychology's definition of learning?
A) a temporary change in behavior that results from past experience
B) the adaptation of instincts to new environments
C) a relatively permanent change in behavior brought about through experience
D) the gradual and systematic organization of behavior

Accepted Answer

Psychology's definition of learning is a relatively permanent change in behavior brought about through experience. This definition implies that the behavior change is enduring and not just a temporary response to an event or situation. Choice A, a temporary change in behavior that results from past experience, does not emphasize the permanence of behavioral change. Choice B, the adaptation of instincts to new environments, is more closely associated with the concept of evolution than with learning. Choice D, the gradual and systematic organization of behavior, could describe a process associated with learning, but it does not define learning itself.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT true about learning?
A) Learning refers to a relatively permanent change in behavior.
B) Learning occurs through experience.
C) Learning is the result of interactions with one's environment.
D) Learning refers only to intentionally produced changes in behavior.

Accepted Answer

Learning can occur both intentionally and unintentionally. Therefore, the statement that learning refers only to intentionally produced changes in behavior is not true.

Question 10

In his investigations of association learning,Pavlov discovered that dogs' best learning of the association between a metronome and food takes place when the interval between each stimulus is about:
A) 1 second.
B) 0.5 second.
C) 3 seconds.
D) 5 seconds.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov found that the optimal interval for dogs to learn the association between a conditioned stimulus (like a metronome) and an unconditioned stimulus (like food) was around 0.5 seconds. This timing allows the conditioned stimulus to effectively predict the unconditioned stimulus, facilitating learning.

Question 11

Peter is punched by several bullies at school.Now,whenever a bully merely swings his fist at Peter,Peter winces.In this example,the unconditioned stimulus is:
A) pain from being punched.
B) the punch.
C) a hand moving in the air.
D) wincing.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Peter is punched by several bullies at...

Question 12

When a baby is born,he shows no preference for foods other than mother's milk or formula.Soon after the introduction of new foods,however,the baby shows a preference for fruits and vegetables.This new preference is an example of
A) instinct.
B) learning.
C) maturation.
D) insight.

Accepted Answer

The baby's preference for fruits and vegetables is not based on instinct, since it was not present at birth. It is also unlikely due to maturation, as the preference does not develop with age but with exposure to new foods. Insight also does not apply, as this implies a sudden realization or problem-solving ability. Therefore, learning is the best explanation for the baby's new preference, as it is based on experience and exposure to different foods.

Question 13

In Pavlov's studies,the food or meat powder was the:
A) conditioned stimulus.
B) neutral stimulus.
C) conditioned response.
D) unconditioned stimulus.

Accepted Answer

In Pavlov's studies, the food or meat powder was the unconditioned stimulus (UCS) as it naturally and automatically caused salivation in the dogs without any prior training or learning.

Question 14

Women who breast-feed their infants often notice that the crying of any infant will trigger a reflex in which breast milk is ejected even when they are not nursing at the moment.In this case,the ejection of milk is a(n):
A) unconditioned stimulus.
B) conditioned response.
C) unconditioned response.
D) conditioned stimulus.

Accepted Answer

The ejection of milk in response to any infant's crying, not just their own, becomes a conditioned response over time. Initially, milk ejection is directly triggered by the baby's suckling (an unconditioned stimulus leading to an unconditioned response). However, as the mother associates the sound of crying with nursing, the crying itself becomes a conditioned stimulus, leading to the conditioned response of milk ejection, even in the absence of suckling.

Question 15

In Pavlov's studies,Pavlov realized that the dogs had learned to associate:
A) a behavior with a stimulus.
B) a reward with a stimulus.
C) a behavior with a behavior.
D) a stimulus with a stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Pavlov's studies revealed that the dogs had learned to associate a neutral stimulus (such as the sound of a bell) with a reflexive response (such as salivation to the presentation of food). This means that the dogs had learned to associate one stimulus (the bell) with another stimulus (the food), rather than a behavior or a reward. Therefore, the best choice is D, "a stimulus with a stimulus."

Question 16

In order to encourage the association between two stimuli,a researcher should:
A) give subjects plenty of time between the stimuli so that they can try to remember their association.
B) only pair the stimuli once or twice so the subjects won't get bored.
C) make sure the subjects are told that the two stimuli are associated.
D) pair the stimuli many times and keep the time between presentations of the stimuli short.

Accepted Answer

Pairing the stimuli many times and keeping the time between presentations of the stimuli short is the best way to encourage the association between them. This is because repetition and close timing of the presentations helps the brain to form and strengthen the association between the two stimuli. Giving subjects plenty of time between the stimuli (A) may cause them to forget the association and only pairing the stimuli once or twice (B) is not enough for the association to become established. While telling the subjects that the two stimuli are associated (C) may be helpful, it alone is not enough to encourage the association between them.

Question 17

After several injections,Windsor the terrier starts to yelp at the sight of hypodermic needles.The initial injection Windsor received is a(n):
A) conditioned stimulus
B) conditioned response
C) unconditioned stimulus
D) unconditioned response

Accepted Answer

The initial injection is an unconditioned stimulus because it naturally (without prior learning) causes Windsor to yelp, which is an unconditioned response. Conditioning occurs when Windsor starts to yelp at the sight of the needles, indicating that the sight of the needles has become a conditioned stimulus through association with the injections.

Question 18

As he gets older,an all-star baseball batter's ability to quickly react is lost.Why is this loss NOT considered to be the result of learning?
A) The loss occurs over too long a period of time.
B) The loss is too gradual and learning is rapid by comparison.
C) The loss is the result of biological,not experiential factors.
D) Learning always involves a gain,not a loss,of behavior.

Accepted Answer

The loss of ability to quickly react is attributed to biological factors such as aging and physical decline, rather than being a result of experiential learning.

Question 19

Johnny was playing on his swing set when a semi truck blasted its horn on the street directly in front of him.Johnny was so startled that he fell off the swing and skinned his knee.Now Johnny gets scared every time he hears a truck.This is an example of:
A) punishment.
B) classical conditioning.
C) negative reinforcement.
D) operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus (the sound of the truck horn) becomes associated with an unconditioned response (being startled) due to its pairing with a conditioned stimulus (the swing set). As a result, Johnny now exhibits a conditioned response (fear) whenever he hears a similar sound. Punishment, negative reinforcement, and operant conditioning do not adequately explain this scenario.

Question 20

A buzzing sound is followed by an electric shock to the hands.After several repetitions,subjects jerk their hands away when they hear the buzzer.In this example,what is the unconditioned stimulus?
A) subjects jerking their hands away
B) the buzzer
C) fear of the shock
D) the electric shock

Accepted Answer

The unconditioned stimulus is the stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response, without any conditioning. In this example, the electric shock is the unconditioned stimulus. It naturally causes a physical response (jerk of the hand) without any conditioning. The buzzer is the conditioned stimulus as it is paired with the unconditioned stimulus (electric shock) to elicit the conditioned response (jerk of the hand). The fear of the shock and the jerking of the hands away are both conditioned responses.

Quiz 7: Basic Principles of Learning

Of the following,which is the BEST description of Pavlov's accidental discovery?

A buzzing sound is followed by an electric shock to the hands.After several repetitions,subjects jerk their hands away when they hear the buzzer.In this example,what is the conditioned stimulus?

Peter is punched by several bullies at school.Now,whenever a bully merely swings his fist at Peter,Peter winces.In this example,the conditioned stimulus is:

Which of the following phrases most closely matches psychology's definition of learning?

In Pavlov's classic experiments with dogs,the laboratory attendant had become a(n) :

A stimulus that automatically elicits a response with no prior learning is a(n) :

In Pavlov's studies,Pavlov realized that the dogs had learned to associate:

Which of the following is psychology's definition of learning?

Which of the following is NOT true about learning?

In his investigations of association learning,Pavlov discovered that dogs' best learning of the association between a metronome and food takes place when the interval between each stimulus is about:

Peter is punched by several bullies at school.Now,whenever a bully merely swings his fist at Peter,Peter winces.In this example,the unconditioned stimulus is:

When a baby is born,he shows no preference for foods other than mother's milk or formula.Soon after the introduction of new foods,however,the baby shows a preference for fruits and vegetables.This new preference is an example of

In Pavlov's studies,the food or meat powder was the:

Women who breast-feed their infants often notice that the crying of any infant will trigger a reflex in which breast milk is ejected even when they are not nursing at the moment.In this case,the ejection of milk is a(n) :

In Pavlov's studies,Pavlov realized that the dogs had learned to associate:

In order to encourage the association between two stimuli,a researcher should:

After several injections,Windsor the terrier starts to yelp at the sight of hypodermic needles.The initial injection Windsor received is a(n) :

As he gets older,an all-star baseball batter's ability to quickly react is lost.Why is this loss NOT considered to be the result of learning?

Johnny was playing on his swing set when a semi truck blasted its horn on the street directly in front of him.Johnny was so startled that he fell off the swing and skinned his knee.Now Johnny gets scared every time he hears a truck.This is an example of:

A buzzing sound is followed by an electric shock to the hands.After several repetitions,subjects jerk their hands away when they hear the buzzer.In this example,what is the unconditioned stimulus?