Question 1

A stimulus or event that is naturally or inherently reinforcing for a given species is called a _____, and a stimulus or event that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer is called a _____.

Accepted Answer

The definition of primary and conditioned reinforcers match with the options given in B. A primary reinforcer is naturally reinforcing, and a conditioned reinforcer gains its reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer. The other options are incorrect because positive reinforcers and negative reinforcers are types of reinforcement, not different types of reinforcers. Similarly, secondary reinforcers and negative reinforcers are not equivalent to primary and conditioned reinforcers.

Question 2

After carrying a step stool to the kitchen, five-year-old Laura is able to reach the Scotch tape dispenser on the kitchen counter. What is the operant in this example?

Accepted Answer

The operant in this example is carrying the step stool to the kitchen because it is a behavior that Laura engaged in that resulted in her being able to reach the Scotch tape dispenser. The Scotch tape dispenser itself is not an operant, but rather the object that Laura was trying to access through her behavior. The image of the step stool in the child's mind and the age of the child are not operants either, as they do not correspond to observable behaviors.

Question 3

The respect of your peers, the approval of your instructors or managers, a smile, a touch, or a nod of recognition can all be possible examples of:

Accepted Answer

These are all examples of conditioned reinforcers, which are stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through association with primary reinforcers or other conditioned reinforcers. The respect of your peers and the approval of your instructors or managers may be associated with success or achieving a goal, which can be a primary reinforcer. A smile, a touch, or a nod of recognition may be associated with positive social interaction, which can also be a primary reinforcer. However, these stimuli themselves do not have inherent reinforcing properties and only become reinforcing through association with other stimuli.

Question 4

To avoid losing any data on his computer, Tom consistently backs up his computer data to a second hard drive. Using operant conditioning terms, Tom's behavior of backing up his data to a second hard drive is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Tom's behavior of backing up his data to a second hard drive is an example of negative reinforcement by avoidance. Tom is engaging in the behavior of backing up his data to avoid the negative consequence of losing his data. This behavior is negatively reinforced because it removes the aversive stimulus (the fear or possibility of losing data) and increases the likelihood that Tom will continue to engage in this behavior in the future.

Question 5

Miss Cantrell began using stickers to reward her first-graders who stayed in their seats and completed their arithmetic worksheets on time. Using operant conditioning terms, Miss Cantrell is using a _____ to reward desired behavior.

Accepted Answer

Miss Cantrell is using a conditioned reinforcer, as the stickers are not inherently rewarding, but have been associated with the desired behavior through conditioning.

Question 6

Whenever Stephanie changes the engine air filter in her car, she unscrews the two bolts that hold the filter cover on, then places the two bolts by the car's front tire to avoid dropping (and losing) them in the car's engine. Using operant conditioning terminology, placing the bolts by the tire is:

Accepted Answer

Placing the bolts by the tire is an action (operant) that Stephanie performs to avoid a negative outcome (losing the bolts in the engine), which is an example of negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior by removing or preventing a negative outcome.

Question 7

After she realized that the mosquito had bitten her and her hand was starting to itch, Akai rubbed some cortisone cream on the swollen spot, and the itching stopped. The next time a mosquito bit her, she applied cortisone cream immediately to relieve the itching. Using operant conditioning terms, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement by escape occurs when an unpleasant stimulus is removed after a desired behavior is performed. In this case, the itching was the unpleasant stimulus, and the application of cortisone cream was the desired behavior. By applying the cream, Akai was able to escape the itching, which reinforced the behavior of applying the cream.

Question 8

In operant conditioning, reinforcement is:

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement is defined by its effect on behavior, which is to increase or strengthen its occurrence. It is a consequence that follows a behavior and makes it more likely to occur in the future. The other options describe stimuli that elicit a response, either unconditioned or conditioned, but they do not necessarily strengthen behavior.

Question 9

Positive reinforcement is to negative reinforcement as:

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus to increase desirable behavior, while negative reinforcement involves the removal of an aversive stimulus to increase desirable behavior. Similarly, in the given options, option A involves the addition of a reinforcing stimulus and option D involves the removal of a reinforcing stimulus. Therefore, option A is the most appropriate answer.

Question 10

Delores could see the sock on the floor behind the clothes dryer. She straightened out a wire clothes hanger, fashioned a hook on the end, and used it to fish the sock out from behind the dryer. Using operant conditioning terminology, straightening out the wire hanger and poking it behind the dryer would be the _____ and the retrieved sock would be the _____, assuming this increased Delores' use of the clothes wire to retrieve socks in the future.

Accepted Answer

The straightening out of the wire hanger and poking it behind the dryer would be the operant, as this is a behavior that Delores is emitting in order to achieve a specific outcome (retrieving the sock). The retrieved sock would be the reinforcing stimulus, as it is the outcome that is increasing the likelihood of Delores using the wire hanger to retrieve socks again in the future. Therefore, the best choice is D, where "operant" and "reinforcing stimulus" are used.

Question 11

Positive reinforcement _____ the likelihood of a behavior's being repeated. Negative reinforcement _____ the likelihood of a behavior's being repeated.

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement involves adding something desirable to increase the likelihood of behavior being repeated. Negative reinforcement involves removing something unpleasant to increase the likelihood of behavior being repeated. Therefore, both positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood of behavior being repeated.

Question 12

Which of the following statements best captures the basic idea of operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is a type of learning in which behavior is shaped and maintained by its consequences. This means that behavior is more likely to be repeated if it is followed by a positive consequence (reinforcement) and less likely to be repeated if it is followed by a negative consequence (punishment).

Question 13

At the Acme Widget Company, the top salesperson each month is rewarded with a private parking space by the front door of the company. Using operant conditioning terms, the salesperson's behavior is being maintained by:

Accepted Answer

The private parking space is a conditioned reinforcer because it has been associated with the reward for being the top salesperson. The behavior of being a top salesperson is being maintained by the conditioned reinforcer of the private parking space.

Question 14

Whenever she sees a bolt of lightning streak across the sky, Maria quickly unplugs her computer equipment to keep it from being damaged by an electrical surge. Using operant conditioning terms, Maria's behavior is being maintained by:

Accepted Answer

Maria's behavior is being maintained by negative reinforcement by avoidance because she unplugs the computer equipment to avoid the potential damage caused by an electrical surge. By doing so, she is reinforced by the absence of the negative consequence (i.e., the computer equipment being damaged).

Question 15

Which of the following terms would Skinner most likely reject?

Accepted Answer

Skinner, a behaviorist, focused on observable behaviors and the conditions that affect those behaviors. He would likely reject "voluntary" because it implies an internal decision-making process, which is not easily observable or measurable. Skinner emphasized operant conditioning, which involves learning from the consequences of behavior, whether it is deemed voluntary or involuntary in common parlance.

Question 16

Which of the following would be considered a conditioned reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A conditioned reinforcer is a stimulus that initially has no reinforcement value but gains reinforcement value by being paired with a primary reinforcer. Money is a classic example of a conditioned reinforcer, as it has no inherent value but gains value by being paired with other reinforcers such as food, water, or goods and services. A, B, and C are all primary reinforcers that do not require pairing with other stimuli to have reinforcement value.

Question 17

Awards, frequent flyer points, and college degrees are examples of:

Accepted Answer

Awards, frequent flyer points, and college degrees are not inherently reinforcing, but they have become associated with positive outcomes, making them conditioned reinforcers.

Question 18

You take two aspirin to relieve a headache. Thirty minutes later, the headache is gone. You are now more likely to take aspirin to deal with bodily aches and pain in the future. In other words, _____ has occurred.

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement by escape occurs when a behavior is increased because it allows someone to escape a negative condition. In this case, taking aspirin removed the headache (a negative condition), which reinforces the behavior of taking aspirin for pain relief in the future.

Question 19

To keep himself from getting mosquito bites when he mows the lawn, Kevin always sprays himself with an insect repellent before he starts mowing. Using operant conditioning terms, this is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Kevin is using insect repellent to avoid the unpleasant experience of mosquito bites, which is an example of negative reinforcement by avoidance. He is not adding a pleasant stimulus (which would be positive reinforcement) or removing a pleasant stimulus (which would be punishment); instead, he is taking action to prevent an unpleasant experience from happening.

Question 20

An operant could be defined as:

Accepted Answer

An operant is a voluntary action that is controlled by its consequences, meaning its frequency or likelihood of occurrence is affected by the events that follow it. This is in contrast to reflexes or automatic behaviors, which are not under voluntary control. Observation of an individual's actions does not necessarily make them an operant. The mental image of an object or action refers to mental representations or visualizations, and is not directly related to operant behavior.

Quiz 5: Section 2: Learning

A stimulus or event that is naturally or inherently reinforcing for a given species is called a _, and a stimulus or event that has acquired reinforcing value by being associated with a primary reinforcer is called a _.