Question 1

Suppose a teacher is careful to present material one small step at a time,with frequent tests and positive reinforcements for correct answers.This approach is an application of what?​
A)Theory of mind
B)​Dishabituation
C)Classical conditioning​
D)​Operant conditioning

Accepted Answer

The approach described in the question is an example of operant conditioning, which involves shaping behavior through positive reinforcement and feedback. The teacher is reinforcing correct answers and breaking down material into small steps, which is a key aspect of this conditioning approach.

Question 2

What is meant by "preparedness" in learning?​
A)Some associations are easier to learn than others are.
B)Some individuals learn faster or more easily than others do.​
C)Stimulant drugs increase alertness and therefore improve learning.​
D)Learning is faster if it combines both classical and operant conditioning.​

Accepted Answer

Preparedness refers to the concept that certain associations are more naturally or easily learned than others due to evolutionary predispositions. This means that some behaviors or responses are more readily conditioned in certain species because they have been advantageous for survival.

Question 3

Applied behavior analysis (or behavior modification)teaches acceptable behaviors by reinforcing simple behaviors and then advancing to more complex behaviors.What does this idea apply?​
A)Piaget's concept of conservation
B)Erikson's stages of development​
C)​Skinner's procedure of shaping
D)Pavlov's procedure of classical conditioning​

Accepted Answer

The idea of reinforcing simple behaviors and gradually advancing to more complex behaviors through positive reinforcement is the procedure of shaping, which is a concept developed by B.F. Skinner in the field of behaviorism. This technique is used in applied behavior analysis or behavior modification to teach acceptable behaviors and has been found to be effective in a variety of settings, including education, therapy, and parenting.

Question 4

​A safety officer offered rewards to the entire class if everyone played more safely on the playground.This approach is an example of what?
A)Classical conditioning
B)Theory of mind​
C)Applied behavior analysis​
D)The availability heuristic​

Accepted Answer

This approach is an example of Applied behavior analysis which offers rewards for desired behaviors.

Question 5

Behavior modification is a practical application of what?​
A)Classical conditioning
B)Operant conditioning​
C)The representativeness heuristic​
D)​The availability heuristic

Accepted Answer

Behavior modification is a practical application of operant conditioning, which involves modifying behavior through positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, or extinction. Classical conditioning focuses more on the reflexive association between stimuli and responses. The representativeness heuristic and the availability heuristic are cognitive biases that affect decision-making and perception.

Question 6

​The idea of preparedness in learning is consistent with which of these assumptions?
A)Animal species with larger brains tend to learn faster than those with smaller brains.
B)Learning proceeds more swiftly if it combines classical and operant conditioning.​
C)It is easiest to learn something that is likely to be useful in nature.​
D)Learning proceeds more swiftly if it activates the left and right hemispheres equally.​

Accepted Answer

The idea of preparedness in learning is based on the assumption that it is easiest to learn something that is likely to be useful in nature. Preparedness refers to an organism's inherent inclination or readiness to learn certain associations between stimuli and responses based on their evolutionary history. For example, humans are inherently predisposed to learn fears of snakes and spiders because these were once major threats to our ancestors' survival. This assumption is not related to brain size (A), the combination of classical and operant conditioning (B), or the activation of hemispheres (D).

Question 7

Compared to someone with a history of continuous reinforcement,what is true for someone who has been reinforced on an unpredictable schedule,such as variable-ratio or variable-interval?​
A)The responses will extinguish more slowly.
B)The responses will be more vigorous.​
C)The responses will occur with less delay between one and the next.​
D)The responses will fail to generalize to new stimuli or new settings.​

Accepted Answer

Continuous reinforcement leads to rapid extinction, while unpredictable or intermittent reinforcement schedules result in slower extinction. Therefore, someone who has been reinforced on an unpredictable schedule will sustain the learned behavior longer and experience a slower rate of extinction than someone with a history of continuous reinforcement.

Question 8

What procedure might you use in applied behavior analysis?​
A)Surround someone with other people who are engaged in appropriate behaviors.
B)Combine psychoanalysis with certain antidepressant drugs.​
C)Reinforce acceptable behaviors and not the undesired ones.​
D)Record brain activity and correlate it with self-reported changes in mood.​

Accepted Answer

Applied behavior analysis involves reinforcing desired or acceptable behaviors and withholding reinforcement for undesired or inappropriate behaviors. This can include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, and extinction techniques. It does not involve psychoanalysis or the use of antidepressant drugs, nor does it typically involve measuring brain activity. Surrounding someone with other people engaged in appropriate behaviors may be a component of a treatment plan, but it is not sufficient as a standalone procedure.

Question 9

​You occasionally check for new email message,but they appear at unpredictable times.Which schedule of reinforcement is present in this case?
A)Fixed-interval
B)Variable-interval​
C)Fixed-ratio​
D)​Variable-ratio

Accepted Answer

The sporadic appearance of new email messages that is unpredictable in timing is an example of variable-interval schedule of reinforcement. In this type of schedule, a behavior is reinforced after an unpredictable amount of time has passed, which results in a slow but steady rate of responding.

Question 10

​With which of the following do animals most easily associate a taste?
A)Illness
B)Electrical shock​
C)Sounds​
D)​Sexual excitation

Accepted Answer

Animals most easily associate a taste with illness, a phenomenon known as "taste aversion learning." This allows them to avoid consuming the same harmful or toxic substance in the future.

Question 11

Suppose a video game gives you points for every tenth hit.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?​
A)Fixed-interval
B)Variable-interval​
C)Fixed-ratio​
D)Variable-ratio​

Accepted Answer

This reinforcement schedule rewards a behavior after a specific number of responses have occurred. In this case, the behavior of hitting is being reinforced every tenth hit, making it a fixed-ratio schedule.

Question 12

John and Joe enjoy fishing.Last year John caught fish every time he tried,but Joe caught fish only occasionally.So far this year,neither one has caught any fish.What will happen?​
A)John will quit more quickly.
B)Joe will quit more quickly.​
C)Both will quit equally fast.​
D)Whoever is the younger one will quit more quickly.​

Accepted Answer

John, who previously caught fish every attempt, is experiencing a new and negative change in outcome, likely leading to quicker frustration and cessation of effort compared to Joe, who is accustomed to not always catching fish.

Question 13

During the Korean War,captors persuaded U.S.soldiers to cooperate by reinforcing small amounts of cooperation and then moving to greater levels.This procedure resembles which procedure?​
A)The disequilibrium principle
B)Shaping​
C)Classical conditioning​
D)​Vicarious punishment

Accepted Answer

The procedure described resembles shaping, which involves reinforcing behaviors gradually until the desired behavior is fully established. The captors reinforced small amounts of cooperation before moving on to greater levels, which is a form of shaping. The other options, such as the disequilibrium principle, classical conditioning, and vicarious punishment, do not accurately describe the procedure being used.

Question 14

One persuasion technique began by giving soldiers extra privileges for writing an essay slightly favorable to the captors.Later they shaped the soldiers into greater and greater cooperation.This is a practical application of what?​
A)Classical conditioning
B)Operant conditioning​
C)The representativeness heuristic​
D)The availability heuristic​

Accepted Answer

This is an application of operant conditioning, where the soldiers are rewarded for displaying slightly favorable behavior towards their captors and gradually shaped into greater cooperation through continuous reward-based reinforcement. Classical conditioning involves pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a conditioned response, whereas representativeness and availability heuristics are cognitive biases that influence decision making.

Question 15

You attend every new movie at your local theater,but you enjoy only about half of them.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?​
A)Fixed-interval
B)Variable-interval​
C)Fixed-ratio​
D)Variable-ratio​

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement. The reinforcement (enjoyment of the movie) is given on a variable basis (as some movies are enjoyed and some are not) but only after a certain number of behaviors (attending every new movie at the local theater). This is commonly seen in gambling, where a person may continue to play a slot machine even after losing several times because they know they will win eventually (unpredictable nature of reinforcement).

Question 16

​You scan the night sky looking for meteors or comets.They appear at unpredictable times.This is an example of which type of schedule of reinforcement?
A)Fixed-interval
B)Variable-interval​
C)Fixed-ratio​
D)Variable-ratio​

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a variable-interval schedule of reinforcement because the reinforcement (appearance of meteors or comets) occurs after an unpredictable amount of time has elapsed.

Question 17

​Which of these is central to applied behavior analysis?
A)Hypnosis
B)Operant conditioning​
C)Psychoanalysis​
D)​Recordings of brain activity

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is a central concept in applied behavior analysis (ABA), which involves using principles of behavior to modify or change behaviors in individuals. ABA focuses on using positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, or punishment to increase or decrease certain behaviors. Hypnosis, psychoanalysis, and recordings of brain activity are not central to ABA.

Question 18

Oblivia and her sister Deliria take the same classes.In the past,teachers praised Oblivia every time she spoke in class,but they praised Deliria only occasionally.This year,teachers never praise either one.What will happen?​
A)Obivia will give up more quickly.
B)Deliria will give up more quickly.​
C)Both will give up equally fast.​
D)Whoever is the younger one will give up more quickly.​

Accepted Answer

Oblivia, who was accustomed to receiving praise frequently, is likely to be more affected by the sudden lack of reinforcement compared to Deliria, who received it only occasionally. This change can lead to Oblivia giving up more quickly due to the higher contrast in her experience of reinforcement.

Question 19

How could you use an operant-conditioning principle to persuade someone to do something?​
A)Start by reinforcing a small amount of cooperation and then shape further cooperation.
B)Electrically stimulate the brain areas responsible for the desired behaviors.​
C)Demonstrate the desired behavior and wait for the person to imitate it.​
D)Pair a neutral stimulus with presentation of another stimulus that causes the behavior.​

Accepted Answer

By reinforcing and rewarding small acts of cooperation, you can use the operant conditioning principle of positive reinforcement to persuade someone to continue and eventually increase their level of cooperation. This is known as shaping behavior.

Question 20

A cat easily learns to push or pull something to escape from a puzzle box,but does not easily learn to scratch or lick itself.Which term applies to observations like this?​
A)Preparedness
B)Shaping​
C)Disequilibrium​
D)Heuristics​

Accepted Answer

The term that applies to this observation is preparedness. Preparedness is the concept that some behaviors are more easily learned than others because they are already biologically prepared or "wired" into an organism through evolution. In this example, due to an evolutionary advantage, cats are biologically prepared to learn how to push or pull something to escape from a puzzle box, but scratching or licking themselves does not provide the same immediate advantage, and therefore is not as easily learned.

Quiz 6: Learning

Suppose a teacher is careful to present material one small step at a time,with frequent tests and positive reinforcements for correct answers.This approach is an application of what?

What is meant by "preparedness" in learning?

Applied behavior analysis (or behavior modification) teaches acceptable behaviors by reinforcing simple behaviors and then advancing to more complex behaviors.What does this idea apply?

A safety officer offered rewards to the entire class if everyone played more safely on the playground.This approach is an example of what?

Behavior modification is a practical application of what?

The idea of preparedness in learning is consistent with which of these assumptions?

Compared to someone with a history of continuous reinforcement,what is true for someone who has been reinforced on an unpredictable schedule,such as variable-ratio or variable-interval?

What procedure might you use in applied behavior analysis?

You occasionally check for new email message,but they appear at unpredictable times.Which schedule of reinforcement is present in this case?

With which of the following do animals most easily associate a taste?

Suppose a video game gives you points for every tenth hit.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?

John and Joe enjoy fishing.Last year John caught fish every time he tried,but Joe caught fish only occasionally.So far this year,neither one has caught any fish.What will happen?

During the Korean War,captors persuaded U.S.soldiers to cooperate by reinforcing small amounts of cooperation and then moving to greater levels.This procedure resembles which procedure?

One persuasion technique began by giving soldiers extra privileges for writing an essay slightly favorable to the captors.Later they shaped the soldiers into greater and greater cooperation.This is a practical application of what?

You attend every new movie at your local theater,but you enjoy only about half of them.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?

You scan the night sky looking for meteors or comets.They appear at unpredictable times.This is an example of which type of schedule of reinforcement?

Which of these is central to applied behavior analysis?

Oblivia and her sister Deliria take the same classes.In the past,teachers praised Oblivia every time she spoke in class,but they praised Deliria only occasionally.This year,teachers never praise either one.What will happen?

How could you use an operant-conditioning principle to persuade someone to do something?

A cat easily learns to push or pull something to escape from a puzzle box,but does not easily learn to scratch or lick itself.Which term applies to observations like this?

Quiz 6: Learning

Suppose a teacher is careful to present material one small step at a time,with frequent tests and positive reinforcements for correct answers.This approach is an application of what?​

What is meant by "preparedness" in learning?​

Applied behavior analysis (or behavior modification) teaches acceptable behaviors by reinforcing simple behaviors and then advancing to more complex behaviors.What does this idea apply?​

​A safety officer offered rewards to the entire class if everyone played more safely on the playground.This approach is an example of what?

Behavior modification is a practical application of what?​

​The idea of preparedness in learning is consistent with which of these assumptions?

Compared to someone with a history of continuous reinforcement,what is true for someone who has been reinforced on an unpredictable schedule,such as variable-ratio or variable-interval?​

What procedure might you use in applied behavior analysis?​

​You occasionally check for new email message,but they appear at unpredictable times.Which schedule of reinforcement is present in this case?

​With which of the following do animals most easily associate a taste?

Suppose a video game gives you points for every tenth hit.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?​

John and Joe enjoy fishing.Last year John caught fish every time he tried,but Joe caught fish only occasionally.So far this year,neither one has caught any fish.What will happen?​

During the Korean War,captors persuaded U.S.soldiers to cooperate by reinforcing small amounts of cooperation and then moving to greater levels.This procedure resembles which procedure?​

One persuasion technique began by giving soldiers extra privileges for writing an essay slightly favorable to the captors.Later they shaped the soldiers into greater and greater cooperation.This is a practical application of what?​

You attend every new movie at your local theater,but you enjoy only about half of them.Which schedule of reinforcement is this?​

​You scan the night sky looking for meteors or comets.They appear at unpredictable times.This is an example of which type of schedule of reinforcement?

​Which of these is central to applied behavior analysis?

Oblivia and her sister Deliria take the same classes.In the past,teachers praised Oblivia every time she spoke in class,but they praised Deliria only occasionally.This year,teachers never praise either one.What will happen?​

How could you use an operant-conditioning principle to persuade someone to do something?​

A cat easily learns to push or pull something to escape from a puzzle box,but does not easily learn to scratch or lick itself.Which term applies to observations like this?​