Question 1

A training session by the Shanghai Hongfeng Leadership School is highlighted in "Ethics Competency: Spanked at the Bank." What was the result of Changzhi Zhangze Rural Commercial Bank's use of this leadership program?

Accepted Answer

The article states that the bank's president and another top executive were dismissed from the bank's supervisory body following the implementation of the leadership program by the Shanghai Hongfeng Leadership School. This suggests that there were ethical issues at the bank that were brought to light by the training program. Option A is incorrect because there is no mention of any promotions resulting from the leadership course. Option B is incorrect because the article does not mention the use of negative reinforcement by the bank. Option C is also incorrect because there is no information to support the idea that the bank was recognized for its ethical treatment of employees.

Question 2

In a ______ schedule, a certain number of desired behaviors must occur before the reinforcer is delivered, but the number of behaviors varies around some average.

Accepted Answer

A variable ratio schedule requires a certain number of behaviors to be completed before receiving a reinforcer, but the number of behaviors required varies around an average. This creates a high and steady rate of responding because the individual does not know exactly how many behaviors are required before receiving the reinforcement, so they continue to engage in the behavior in anticipation of the reinforcer.

Question 3

When monetary reinforcement comes regularly at the end of a specific period of time, such as at the end of each month, it is a type of _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

The description matches the characteristics of a fixed interval schedule, which is when reinforcement is delivered after a specific period of time has elapsed, regardless of the behavior being exhibited. The other options refer to different types of reinforcement schedules based on the occurrence or frequency of a specific behavior.

Question 4

An unpleasant event occurring following a behavior and decreasing that behavior's frequency is referred to as

Accepted Answer

According to the question, the behavior decreases following an unpleasant event. This refers to punishment, which is an aversive consequence following a behavior with the goal of decreasing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again. The other options - antecedent, negative reinforcement, and extinction - all involve different consequences or lack thereof following a behavior, but do not necessarily result in a decrease in that behavior's frequency.

Question 5

According to "Across Cultures Competency," in which country is the color yellow associated with death?

Accepted Answer

In Latin America, the color yellow is associated with death, as it is seen as the color of mourning. In other cultures, such as France and India, the color white is associated with death, while in some African cultures, the color red is associated with death. Therefore, options A, C, and D are incorrect.

Question 6

In a variable interval schedule, the amount of time between reinforcers

Accepted Answer

In a variable interval schedule, the amount of time between reinforcers is chosen randomly. This means that there is no set schedule for when the reinforcer will occur, but rather it is based on a varying time interval. This can be an effective way to reinforce behavior because it keeps the individual motivated to continue engaging in the behavior, as they never know when the next reinforcer will occur.

Question 7

Which of the following is a guideline for using contingencies of reinforcement in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

The best guideline for using contingencies of reinforcement in the workplace is to carefully examine the consequences of nonactions as well as actions. This means that managers should consider both the positive and negative consequences of rewarding or punishing a behavior or lack of behavior. This helps ensure that the reinforcement is appropriate and effective in shaping employee behavior. The other choices are not appropriate guidelines as they either lack transparency or are ineffective in promoting desired workplace behavior.

Question 8

The simplest schedule of reinforcement is

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement is the simplest schedule, as every occurrence of the desired behavior is immediately followed by a reward. This creates a strong association between the behavior and the reward, making it easy for the subject to learn the desired behavior.

Question 9

Which of the following is NOT TRUE regarding the use of punishment in the workplace?

Accepted Answer

Organizations that rely on punishment as the primary means of controlling behavior often have high rates of employee turnover, as punishment can create a negative work environment and lead to decreased job satisfaction and morale.

Question 10

What is important for leaders to understand regarding the use of punishment?

Accepted Answer

When using punishment, it is important for a leader to not only specify the behavior that needs to be corrected but also provide an alternative behavior that is acceptable. This helps the employee understand what is expected of them and how they can improve their performance in the future. It is also important for leaders to use positive reinforcement in addition to punishment to encourage good behavior and motivate employees to continue performing well. Therefore, option C is incorrect. It is also important for leaders to provide constructive feedback in private rather than public reprimands, making option A incorrect, and to focus on specific actions when giving an oral reprimand, making option B incorrect.

Question 11

Terry wants to perfect his breaststroke; he spends time watching videos of Michael Phelps swimming so he can observe his breaststroke technique. Terry is engaged in

Accepted Answer

Terry is engaged in symbolizing, which involves learning through observation or the representation of behaviors, such as watching videos of someone performing a task to learn how to do it himself. This is different from classical learning, which involves forming associations between stimuli, or shadowing, which typically refers to closely following or mimicking someone's actions in real-time. Empowerment is more about giving someone the authority or power to do something and doesn't directly relate to the learning process described.

Question 12

The individual piece-rate system used in many manufacturing plants is an example of a ______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

The individual piece-rate system, where workers are paid for each unit they produce, is an example of a fixed ratio schedule. This is because the reinforcement (payment) is given after a fixed number of responses (units produced).

Question 13

The person most closely associated with social learning theory is

Accepted Answer

Albert Bandura is considered the founder of social learning theory, also known as social cognitive theory or observational learning. He conducted numerous studies on how people learn through observation and imitation of others' behaviors.

Question 14

In order to be defined as a punisher, an action must

Accepted Answer

A punisher is an action intended to stop or reduce an undesired behavior. While the removal of reinforcing events may occur as a result of punishment, it is not a defining characteristic. The action does not have to be simply thought of as unpleasant, it must actually reduce the undesired behavior. Lastly, a punisher does not need to be replaced with a positive reinforcer.

Question 15

Which of the following is NOT one of the primary types of intermittent schedules?

Accepted Answer

The primary types of intermittent schedules are fixed interval, variable ratio, and variable interval. Continuous ratio is not a recognized schedule type.

Question 16

In a ______ schedule, the desired behavior must occur a specified number of times before it is reinforced.

Accepted Answer

In a fixed ratio schedule, the desired behavior must occur a specified number of times before it is reinforced. This means that reinforcement is tied to a specific number of responses rather than a specific amount of time or an unpredictable number of responses. Examples of fixed ratio schedules include piece-rate pay and some forms of sales commission where you only receive reinforcement once a specific number of sales are achieved.

Question 17

What makes a variable ratio schedule effective?

Accepted Answer

A variable ratio schedule is effective because it creates uncertainty about when the consequence will occur, which leads to a high rate of responding and persistence in the behavior. The reinforcement is based on the number of responses, but the number is not specified, so the subject keeps performing the behavior to receive reinforcement.

Question 18

_______ reinforcement refers to a reinforcer being delivered after some, but not every occurrence of the desired behavior.

Accepted Answer

Intermittent reinforcement refers to a reinforcer being delivered after some, but not every occurrence of the desired behavior. Continuous reinforcement, on the other hand, refers to a reinforcer being delivered every time the desired behavior occurs. Conditional and sporadic reinforcement are not recognized terms in the field of behaviorism.

Question 19

Frank owns three deli shops in town. Employees are awarded gift cards for adhering to standards set forth for sandwich preparation and shop cleanliness. In order to reinforce the standards he has set forth, Frank makes inspections of each shop at random times. This is an example of

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a variable interval schedule, as the inspections occur at random times rather than at set intervals.

Question 20

Knowledge acquisition through the mental processing of information by observing and imitating others is the premise behind

Accepted Answer

Social learning theory proposes that individuals can learn by observing and imitating others. This type of knowledge acquisition is based on the mental processing of information, rather than on conditioning, which is emphasized by the other answer choices. Classical conditioning involves the association between a stimulus and a response, while operant conditioning involves the association between a behavior and its consequences. Reinforcement schedules refer to the timing and frequency of reinforcement, which can influence the likelihood of a behavior being repeated.

Quiz 4: Learning and Performance Management