Question 1

The time between the occurrence of a stimulus and the beginning of a response is referred to as latency.

Accepted Answer

Latency refers to the time delay between a stimulus and the beginning of a response, so the statement is true.

Question 2

"Reinforcement contingent on the first response occurring within a limited period of time following the expiration of a fixed interval of time" is the definition of:
A)FI/LH
B)FR/LH
C)VR/LH
D)VI/LH

Accepted Answer

The definition given describes the Fixed Interval/Limited Hold (FI/LH) schedule of reinforcement, where a response is only reinforced if it occurs within a certain period of time following the end of a fixed interval. The other options do not match this definition.

Question 3

Gradually lengthening the time of studying before taking a break would be an example of frequency shaping.

Accepted Answer

Frequency shaping involves adjusting the frequency or rate of a behavior, not the duration of an activity before a break. Gradually lengthening study time is an example of shaping behavior by duration.

Question 4

"Reinforcement occurring after a variable number of responses, where the number varies around some mean value" defines the __________schedule.
A)variable-ratio
B)variable-interval
C)variable-ratio-with-limited-hold
D)variable-interval-with-limited-hold

Accepted Answer

The definition provided describes the variable-ratio schedule of reinforcement, where reinforcement occurs after an average number of responses but that number varies around a mean.

Question 5

"Reinforcement contingent on the first response occurring after a fixed period of time" is the definition of a(n)_______schedule.
A)FR
B)VR
C)FI
D)FD

Accepted Answer

The definition of a fixed interval (FI) schedule is reinforcement contingent on the first response occurring after a fixed period of time. The other options (FR, VR, FD) do not match this description.

Question 6

The intensity of a response refers to the physical effect the response has on the environment.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The intensity of a response refers to...

Question 7

Research has demonstrated that it is not possible to use shaping to influence animals to engage in behavior that is harmful to them.

Accepted Answer

Shaping, a process used in operant conditioning, can unfortunately be used to influence animals to engage in behaviors that might be harmful to them, as it involves reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior, regardless of the behavior's potential harm.

Question 8

When reinforcement occurs after some but not all responses, a(n) _______schedule of reinforcement is being used.
A)continuous
B)duration
C)interval
D)intermittent

Accepted Answer

When reinforcement occurs after some but not all responses, it is called intermittent, or partial reinforcement. The other options do not describe this pattern of reinforcement. Continuous reinforcement occurs after every response, duration reinforcement depends on the length of time of a behavior, and interval reinforcement occurs after a certain amount of time has passed.

Question 9

Shaping appears to be useful in modifying not only external behavior but also internal behavior.

Accepted Answer

Shaping is a technique of gradually reinforcing desired behavior while gradually reducing reinforcement of undesired behavior. It can be used to modify both external behavior (such as teaching a dog to perform a new trick) and internal behavior (such as helping individuals overcome anxiety and phobias).

Question 10

The advantage of VR over FR in training programs is that:
A)reinforcement occurs after a certain number of responses are emitted
B)a reinforcer is no longer presented following each response
C)the VR generates longer pauses and a steady rate of responding
D)the VR generates less pausing and can maintain a high rate with fewer reinforcements

Accepted Answer

VR generates less pausing and can maintain a high rate with fewer reinforcements, making it more efficient and effective in training programs.

Question 11

During piece-rate pay in a sewing factory, a worker is paid $10.00 for every ten pairs of pants.This is an example of:
A)a fixed-ratio schedule
B)a fixed-interval schedule
C)continuous reinforcement
D)a fixed-duration schedule

Accepted Answer

This is a fixed-ratio schedule because the worker is paid a fixed amount for a specific number of pants produced (10 pairs). The ratio is fixed at 10 pairs of pants to $10.00.

Question 12

An FI/LH is similar to a simple FI schedule, procedurally, in that in both FI and FI/LH:
A)long pauses occur at the beginning of the interval followed by steady responding
B)reinforcement remains available for only a limited period of time
C)reinforcement is programmed to occur after the first response after a fixed period of time
D)reinforcement occurs after a certain number of responses are emitted

Accepted Answer

In both FI and FI/LH schedules, reinforcement is provided after the first response following a fixed interval of time.

Question 13

Shaping would not be the procedure of choice for:
A)changing the topography of a behavior
B)linking a series of responses together
C)increasing the frequency of a behavior
D)decreasing the latency of a behavior

Accepted Answer

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations to a desired behavior in order to shape it towards the final goal. Linking a series of responses together is more closely related to chaining, where separate behaviors are linked together to form a sequence. Shaping is effective for changing the topography of a behavior, increasing the frequency of a behavior, and decreasing the latency of a behavior.

Question 14

Although it is necessary to avoid under-reinforcement at any step in a shaping program, it is not necessary to worry about reinforcing too many times at any step.

Accepted Answer

Over-reinforcement at a step in a shaping program can lead to the learner becoming too comfortable or reliant on that step, making it difficult to progress to more advanced behaviors or tasks.

Question 15

Across several practices, a swimmer is reinforced for starting more and more quickly to the sound of the starter's pistol.This is an example of _______shaping.
A)duration
B)intensity
C)latency
D)topography

Accepted Answer

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations toward a desired behavior. In this case, the behavior being shaped is the swimmer's response time (or latency) to the sound of the starter's pistol, with the goal of starting more quickly. Latency refers to the time elapsed between a stimulus (the starter's pistol) and the response (beginning to swim).

Question 16

When reinforcement that is contingent on the first response occurs within a limited period of time following another interval of time, which varies around some mean value, a(n)__________ schedule is in effect.
A)variable interval with limited hold
B)fixed interval with limited hold
C)variable interval
D)fixed interval

Accepted Answer

This describes a variable interval with limited hold schedule, where reinforcement is available for the first response after a varying interval of time, but this opportunity is only available for a limited period before it resets.

Question 17

The amount of a particular behavior refers to either its frequency or its intensity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The amount of a particular behavior refers...

Question 18

A pause after reinforcement followed by a high rate of responding until the next reinforcement is the characteristic effect of:
A)FI schedule
B)VI schedule
C)FR schedule
D)FR/LH schedule

Accepted Answer

An FR (Fixed Ratio) schedule typically results in a post-reinforcement pause followed by a high rate of responding until the next reinforcement.

Question 19

Each time you turn on the TV, a picture appears.This is an example of:
A)fixed-ratio reinforcement
B)variable-ratio reinforcement
C)continuous reinforcement
D)fixed-interval reinforcement

Accepted Answer

This is an example of continuous reinforcement because the behavior of turning on the TV is followed by a consistent and immediate reward (the appearance of a picture) every time it is performed.

Question 20

A characteristic effect of a VI/LH schedule is:
A)intermittent responding with very little pausing
B)steady responding with very little pausing
C)very occasional responding with very frequent pausing
D)steady responding with no pausing

Accepted Answer

A Variable Interval/Variable Ratio (VI/LH) schedule typically produces steady responding with very little pausing because the reinforcement is unpredictable both in terms of timing (interval) and the number of responses required (ratio), leading to a consistent rate of response as the subject cannot predict when the next reinforcement will be available.

Quiz 31: Shaping and Schedules of Reinforcement: A Comprehensive Guide

The time between the occurrence of a stimulus and the beginning of a response is referred to as latency.

"Reinforcement contingent on the first response occurring within a limited period of time following the expiration of a fixed interval of time" is the definition of:

Gradually lengthening the time of studying before taking a break would be an example of frequency shaping.

"Reinforcement occurring after a variable number of responses, where the number varies around some mean value" defines the __________schedule.

"Reinforcement contingent on the first response occurring after a fixed period of time" is the definition of a(n) _______schedule.

The intensity of a response refers to the physical effect the response has on the environment.

Research has demonstrated that it is not possible to use shaping to influence animals to engage in behavior that is harmful to them.

When reinforcement occurs after some but not all responses, a(n) _______schedule of reinforcement is being used.

Shaping appears to be useful in modifying not only external behavior but also internal behavior.

The advantage of VR over FR in training programs is that:

During piece-rate pay in a sewing factory, a worker is paid $10.00 for every ten pairs of pants.This is an example of:

An FI/LH is similar to a simple FI schedule, procedurally, in that in both FI and FI/LH:

Shaping would not be the procedure of choice for:

Although it is necessary to avoid under-reinforcement at any step in a shaping program, it is not necessary to worry about reinforcing too many times at any step.

Across several practices, a swimmer is reinforced for starting more and more quickly to the sound of the starter's pistol.This is an example of _______shaping.

When reinforcement that is contingent on the first response occurs within a limited period of time following another interval of time, which varies around some mean value, a(n) __________ schedule is in effect.

The amount of a particular behavior refers to either its frequency or its intensity.

A pause after reinforcement followed by a high rate of responding until the next reinforcement is the characteristic effect of:

Each time you turn on the TV, a picture appears.This is an example of:

A characteristic effect of a VI/LH schedule is: