Question 1

What is the main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?
A) Classical conditioning uses reward-based learning, while operant conditioning is caused by reflexive actions.
B) Classical conditioning is caused by reflexive actions, while operant conditioning requires cognitive evaluation.
C) Classical conditioning requires learning two events are related, while operant conditioning demonstrates that behaviour leads to a consequence.
D) Classical conditioning demonstrates that behaviour leads to a consequence, while operant conditioning is caused by reflexive actions.

Accepted Answer

The main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning is the type of association that is learned. Classical conditioning involves learning that two events are related, such as a bell ringing signaling food is coming. Operant conditioning, on the other hand, involves learning that behavior leads to a consequence, such as pressing a lever to receive a reward.

Question 2

The theory that animals are genetically programmed to fear particular things that threaten their survival is known as:
A) tolerance conditioning
B) biological preparedness
C) evolutionary significance
D) second-order conditioning

Accepted Answer

Biological preparedness is the theory that animals are genetically programmed to fear particular things that threaten their survival. Option A is incorrect because tolerance conditioning refers to the process of becoming less responsive to a repeated stimulus. Option C is incorrect because evolutionary significance is a broader concept that refers to the overall impact of evolutionary forces on an organism's development. Option D is incorrect because second-order conditioning involves conditioning a neutral stimulus to elicit a response after it has been paired with a previously conditioned stimulus.

Question 3

Conditioned taste aversion learning differs from traditional classical conditioning when a metronome is paired with food, because in conditioned taste aversion learning:
A) there is no conditioned stimulus
B) there is no unconditioned stimulus
C) there is no learned response
D) the conditioned stimulus and unconditioned stimulus can be separated by hours

Accepted Answer

In conditioned taste aversion, the conditioned stimulus (e.g., taste) and the unconditioned stimulus (e.g., illness) can be separated by hours, unlike traditional classical conditioning where the stimuli are typically presented close together in time.

Question 4

Which of the following examples from your textbook is NOT an example of an animal which has been trained based on Skinner's principles?
A) seeing-eye dogs
B) navy dolphins trained to seek explosives
C) dogs salivating to a bell
D) dogs trained to sniff for drugs

Accepted Answer

Dogs salivating to a bell is an example of classical conditioning, which was studied by Ivan Pavlov, not B.F. Skinner. The other options involve animals trained using operant conditioning, which is based on Skinner's principles.

Question 5

Thorndike's rule that actions resulting in good outcomes will be repeated and bad outcomes will not be repeated is known as the:
A) mass action rule
B) law of effect
C) tenet of behavioural reciprocity
D) operant theory of cognition

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's rule is known as the "law of effect." This law states that behaviors that lead to positive outcomes are more likely to be repeated, while behaviors that lead to negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated.

Question 6

What is the name commonly applied to the type of learning that Skinner studied?
A) classical conditioning
B) operant conditioning
C) antecedent learning
D) optional learning

Accepted Answer

Skinner studied operant conditioning, which focuses on how behavior is shaped and reinforced by consequences such as rewards and punishments.

Question 7

The idea that the consequences of our actions determine the likelihood they will be performed in the future underlies:
A) the operant conditioning model
B) the classical conditioning model
C) the Rescorla-Wagner model
D) the social learning model

Accepted Answer

The operant conditioning model is based on the idea that behavior is shaped by its consequences. If a behavior is reinforced (i.e. followed by a desirable consequence), it is more likely to be performed in the future. If a behavior is punished (i.e. followed by an aversive consequence), it is less likely to be performed in the future. So, the consequences of our actions determine the likelihood they will be performed in the future in the operant conditioning model.

Question 8

Joe and Tom have been roommates for two years. In that time, Amy started to date Tom. Since having a bad breakup with Tom, Amy now also does not like Joe. This is an example of the phenomenon known as:
A) biological preparedness
B) cognitive preparedness
C) guilt by association
D) shared virtue models

Accepted Answer

This is an example of guilt by association, where Amy has negative feelings towards Joe simply because he was Tom's roommate during their relationship. This phenomenon occurs when a person is judged based on the actions or characteristics of another individual or group they are associated with, even if they have no direct involvement or responsibility for those actions or characteristics.

Question 9

Imagine you are trapped in a cage. Every time you press a button you get a drink of water and every time you pull on a string you get shocked. Soon, you understand that you should press the button, but leave the string alone. This example follows the theory of:
A) the law of effect
B) effective learning
C) the law of learning
D) the effective law

Accepted Answer

The theory of the law of effect states that behavior that is followed by positive consequences is likely to be repeated, while behavior that is followed by negative consequences is less likely to be repeated. In this example, pressing the button leads to a positive consequence (getting a drink of water), while pulling the string leads to a negative consequence (getting shocked). Therefore, the individual learns to press the button and avoid pulling the string based on the law of effect. A, the law of effect, is therefore the best choice.

Question 10

It is easier to condition birds than rats with vision-relevant stimuli than taste-relevant stimuli because:
A) birds rely on vision more than taste for food selection
B) birds are the only species that lack the ability for learned food aversions
C) birds have no taste buds
D) birds and rats evolved separately

Accepted Answer

Birds rely heavily on vision to select their food, whereas rats rely more on their sense of taste. Therefore, it is easier to condition birds to respond to visual stimuli related to food than taste-related stimuli.

Question 11

To which food would you be more likely to show conditioned taste aversion?
A) a highly familiar food; because it was unusual that it made you ill
B) a highly familiar food; because you have learned that this food is safe
C) a novel food; because it was unusual and those new characteristics of the food became paired with you becoming ill
D) a novel food; because it was unusual and those new characteristics became paired with it being a safe food

Accepted Answer

Conditioned taste aversion occurs when a novel food becomes associated with negative consequences, such as illness. In this scenario, the individual would be more likely to develop conditioned taste aversion towards the novel food as they would associate the unique characteristics of the food with the negative experience of becoming ill. Familiar foods, on the other hand, are already associated with positive experiences, making it less likely for an individual to develop conditioned taste aversion towards them.

Question 12

In 1898, a man named Edward Thorndike suggested that behaviours that lead to rewarded outcomes will be repeated. What is the name of Thorndike's theory?
A) the learning and reward effect
B) the law of effect
C) the reward of learning theory
D) the law of conditional learning

Accepted Answer

Thorndike's theory is called the law of effect, which states that behaviors that lead to positive outcomes (rewards) are more likely to be repeated in the future, while behaviors that lead to negative outcomes (punishments) are less likely to be repeated.

Question 13

Rescorla's cognitive model of conditioning does NOT explain why:
A) a conditioned stimulus that occurs before the unconditioned stimulus is optimal for learning
B) a delay between the conditioned stimulus and the unconditioned stimulus is optimal for learning
C) evolutionarily significant conditioned stimuli are easier to condition
D) the conditioned stimulus needs to be a good predictor of the unconditioned stimulus

Accepted Answer

Rescorla's model focuses on the predictability and contingency between the conditioned and unconditioned stimuli, but it does not specifically address why certain stimuli that have evolutionary significance are more easily conditioned.

Question 14

Most humans have a tendency to hide first, and then run when they feel threatened; it is only with practice that individuals such as firefighters can learn to control such an urge. This might be considered an example of:
A) conditioned aversion
B) the equipotentiality principle
C) biological preparedness
D) the law of effect

Accepted Answer

The tendency to hide first and then run when feeling threatened is an example of biological preparedness, which refers to the idea that humans and animals are predisposed to respond to certain stimuli in certain ways due to evolutionary pressures. In this case, the response is likely a result of the survival advantage it provided to our ancestors when facing potential threats in the wild. Conditioned aversion and the law of effect are learning principles that may shape behavior, but they do not account for the initial response. The equipotentiality principle, which suggests that any stimulus can be associated with any response, is not applicable in this case since the response is specific to a threatening stimulus.

Question 15

In the Rescorla-Wagner model, the more surprising the unconditioned stimulus is, the greater the need for an organism to ____________ it using a conditioned stimulus.
A) condition
B) fear
C) predict
D) reinforce

Accepted Answer

According to the Rescorla-Wagner model, learning occurs when the conditioned stimulus provides information about the timing and occurrence of the unconditioned stimulus. The model proposes that learning is determined by the discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. Therefore, the more surprising the unconditioned stimulus is, the greater the need for an organism to predict it using a conditioned stimulus. Thus, the correct answer is C, predict.

Question 16

According to Skinner, what consequence is most conducive to learning?
A) untrained
B) reflexive
C) punishment
D) reward

Accepted Answer

According to Skinner, positive reinforcement (reward) is the most effective consequence for learning. Punishment may decrease the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, but it does not necessarily teach a new behavior or skill. Untrained and reflexive consequences may have limited impact on learning.

Question 17

The Rescorla-Wagner model of the cognitive components of conditioning states that the strength of the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus association depends on how ____________ the unconditioned stimulus is.
A) rewarding
B) evolutionarily significant
C) fearful
D) unexpected

Accepted Answer

According to the Rescorla-Wagner model, the strength of the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus association depends on how unexpected the unconditioned stimulus is. This means that if the unconditioned stimulus is surprising, it will elicit a stronger conditioned response.

Question 18

Research investigating gender differences in learning patterns have shown that:
A) women are more likely to use landmarks and memorize a series of turns when navigating through space
B) men are more likely to use landmarks and memorize a series of turns when navigating through space
C) women are more likely to keep track of cardinal directions and use landmarks
D) men are more likely to keep track of cardinal directions and use landmarks

Accepted Answer

Women are more likely to use landmarks and memorize a series of turns when navigating through space. This is because women tend to have a more holistic approach to navigation, while men tend to have a more analytical approach.

Question 19

Your older sister was captain of the debating team, starred in the school musicals, and graduated as valedictorian. As you entered high school everyone expected that you would excel as well and share the same interests. This is an example of:
A) biological preparedness
B) guilt by association
C) virtue by association
D) shared virtue models

Accepted Answer

This scenario is an example of virtue by association, where the expectations of your performance and interests are influenced by the achievements and virtues of your older sister.

Question 20

Sunil wishes to classically condition his dog to fear skunks so he doesn't get sprayed again. This task should be much easier than teaching him to fear a houseplant because:
A) the dog is biologically prepared to fear certain types of objects
B) the dog has high intelligence
C) the dog is biologically conditioned to fear skunks
D) the dog's mind cannot physically be trained to fear plants

Accepted Answer

The dog is biologically prepared to fear certain types of objects, including skunks, due to their natural instinct for self-preservation. This innate fear can be used in classical conditioning to teach the dog to associate the sight or smell of a skunk with fear, making it easier than trying to condition the dog to fear an object for which they have no natural inclination to fear.

Quiz 6: Learning

What is the main difference between classical conditioning and operant conditioning?

The theory that animals are genetically programmed to fear particular things that threaten their survival is known as:

Conditioned taste aversion learning differs from traditional classical conditioning when a metronome is paired with food, because in conditioned taste aversion learning:

Which of the following examples from your textbook is NOT an example of an animal which has been trained based on Skinner's principles?

Thorndike's rule that actions resulting in good outcomes will be repeated and bad outcomes will not be repeated is known as the:

What is the name commonly applied to the type of learning that Skinner studied?

The idea that the consequences of our actions determine the likelihood they will be performed in the future underlies:

Joe and Tom have been roommates for two years. In that time, Amy started to date Tom. Since having a bad breakup with Tom, Amy now also does not like Joe. This is an example of the phenomenon known as:

Imagine you are trapped in a cage. Every time you press a button you get a drink of water and every time you pull on a string you get shocked. Soon, you understand that you should press the button, but leave the string alone. This example follows the theory of:

It is easier to condition birds than rats with vision-relevant stimuli than taste-relevant stimuli because:

To which food would you be more likely to show conditioned taste aversion?

In 1898, a man named Edward Thorndike suggested that behaviours that lead to rewarded outcomes will be repeated. What is the name of Thorndike's theory?

Rescorla's cognitive model of conditioning does NOT explain why:

Most humans have a tendency to hide first, and then run when they feel threatened; it is only with practice that individuals such as firefighters can learn to control such an urge. This might be considered an example of:

In the Rescorla-Wagner model, the more surprising the unconditioned stimulus is, the greater the need for an organism to ____________ it using a conditioned stimulus.

According to Skinner, what consequence is most conducive to learning?

The Rescorla-Wagner model of the cognitive components of conditioning states that the strength of the conditioned stimulus-unconditioned stimulus association depends on how ____________ the unconditioned stimulus is.

Research investigating gender differences in learning patterns have shown that:

Your older sister was captain of the debating team, starred in the school musicals, and graduated as valedictorian. As you entered high school everyone expected that you would excel as well and share the same interests. This is an example of:

Sunil wishes to classically condition his dog to fear skunks so he doesn't get sprayed again. This task should be much easier than teaching him to fear a houseplant because: