Question 1

All interval schedules of reinforcement are
A) more resistant to stimulus generalization.
B) related to the passage of time.
C) less resistant to extinction than the continuous schedule.
D) better for generating operant responses than ratio schedules.

Accepted Answer

Interval schedules of reinforcement are related to the passage of time, meaning that reinforcement is given after a certain amount of time has passed, rather than based on the number of responses or actions performed.

Question 2

Which schedule of reinforcement tends to produce moderate response rates in which responding is low following reinforcement, but rapidly increases as the time for the next reinforcer approaches?
A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

Fixed interval schedules of reinforcement tend to produce moderate response rates in which responding is low following reinforcement but rapidly increases as the time for the next reinforcer approaches. This is because the reinforcer is only available after a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the last reinforcement, leading to a predictable pattern of responding. In contrast, fixed ratio schedules tend to produce high rates of responding, while variable ratio schedules tend to produce very high rates of responding. Variable interval schedules, on the other hand, produce lower overall rates of responding but with a more consistent pattern over time.

Question 3

Because you can think about past events and even imagine events in your future, you, like all humans, are
A) a first-person observer.
B) an intuitive thinker.
C) a cognitive time traveler.
D) influenced by circadian rhythms.

Accepted Answer

The ability to remember past events and imagine future events is known as mental time travel, which suggests that humans have the cognitive ability to engage in time travel within their minds. Therefore, the best choice is C, "a cognitive time traveler."

Question 4

When a rat is on an FI-20-second schedule for bar pressing, which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) The rat will be reinforced continuously for 20 seconds and then receive no more reinforcement.
B) The rat will have to wait 20 seconds after the last reinforced response before a bar press will pay off again.
C) The rat can press the bar as often as it wants within the interval, but it will not be rewarded until after 20 seconds has passed.
D) The rat is on a partial reinforcement schedule.

Accepted Answer

The rat will not be reinforced continuously for 20 seconds, but rather it must wait 20 seconds between reinforced responses. The rat is on a fixed interval (FI) schedule, meaning it must wait a specific amount of time before a reinforced response will pay off again. This is a form of partial reinforcement as the rat is not being reinforced on every response, but rather only after a specific amount of time has passed.

Question 5

A dog that gets rewarded for the first bark it makes in each ten minute period is being reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) continuous
B) fixed interval
C) variable interval
D) fixed ratio

Accepted Answer

The dog is being reinforced on a fixed interval schedule since the reinforcement (reward) is delivered after a specific amount of time (every 10 minutes) has passed.

Question 6

A child who gets rewarded with candy on the average of every third time she asks her grandmother for a "treat" is being rewarded on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

This schedule of reinforcement is a variable ratio schedule because the child is not rewarded consistently every time she asks for a treat, but rather on a variable schedule where the average is every third request. This type of reinforcement schedule is known to be very effective in maintaining behavior because the individual is unsure when the next reward will come, so they continue to engage in the behavior in hopes of being rewarded.

Question 7

When you are first learning golf, you may hit three or four very good shots in an entire round with these great shots being somewhat random and unpredictable.You are being reinforced on what kind of partial reinforcement schedule?
A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio reinforcement is the most effective form of partial reinforcement schedule as it reinforces the behavior after a random number of responses. In this scenario, the golfer is being reinforced for hitting good shots randomly and unpredictably, which aligns with the characteristics of a variable ratio schedule.

Question 8

Getting paid every two weeks at your job comes closest to which schedule of reinforcement?
A) variable ratio
B) variable interval
C) fixed ratio
D) fixed interval

Accepted Answer

Getting paid every two weeks follows a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement since the reinforcement (payment) is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed (two weeks). The other options are not applicable since they involve varying the frequency or timing of reinforcement based on different criteria (ratio or interval).

Question 9

Jason's parents reward him with a play break after he has worked on his homework for 20 minutes.After 20 more minutes of study, he receives another play break and so on.Jason is on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) continuous
B) fixed interval
C) variable interval
D) fixed ratio

Accepted Answer

In fixed interval reinforcement, rewards are given at fixed time intervals and Jason is being rewarded after a fixed time interval of 20 minutes. Option C) variable interval refers to rewards being given at random intervals, Option D) fixed ratio refers to rewards being given after a fixed number of responses, and Option A) continuous reinforcement refers to providing a reward after every response. None of these options match the scenario given.

Question 10

The first correct response made after a set time period has passed is reinforced with responses made during the time period not being reinforced.This statement describes which schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

This statement describes the fixed interval schedule of reinforcement. In fixed interval schedules, reinforcement is delivered for the first response made after a fixed amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement. Responses made during the time period in between reinforcements are typically not reinforced.

Question 11

A gambler playing a slot machine is being reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) variable interval
C) variable ratio
D) continuous

Accepted Answer

A slot machine is reinforced on a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, meaning that the gambler receives reinforcement (winning money or other prizes) after an unpredictable number of responses (pulling the lever). This type of reinforcement schedule is known to be highly effective in maintaining and increasing behavior, as the gambler never knows when they will receive the reinforcement, leading them to continue playing.

Question 12

If a rat is on an FI-30-second schedule for bar pressing, the rat will be reinforced
A) continuously for 30 seconds and then will receive no more reinforcement.
B) on the average, for every 30 seconds of responding.
C) for a bar press after having waited exactly 30 seconds after the last reinforced response.
D) for a bar press after an interval that averages 30 seconds.

Accepted Answer

In a Fixed Interval (FI) schedule, reinforcement is provided for the first response after a fixed amount of time has passed since the last reinforcement. In this case, the rat will be reinforced for a bar press that occurs after exactly 30 seconds have passed since the last reinforced response.

Question 13

Studies of animals, such as pigeons, rats, and scrub jays, show that animals
A) are "stuck in time."
B) live in the present moment with only short-term memories.
C) can remember up to a day only.
D) are sensitive to the passage of time.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that animals, especially those with a high level of cognitive ability, such as scrub jays, are sensitive to the passage of time. They can remember past events and anticipate future ones, indicating their ability to understand the concept of time. However, their memory abilities may vary, with some animals having more long-term memory than others.

Question 14

Two schedules of reinforcement that produce the highest rates of response are
A) continuous and fixed interval.
B) fixed interval and variable interval.
C) variable interval and variable ratio.
D) fixed ratio and variable ratio.

Accepted Answer

Fixed ratio and variable ratio schedules both produce high rates of response. Fixed ratio schedules reinforce a behavior after a set number of responses, while variable ratio schedules reinforce the behavior after an unpredictable number of responses. This unpredictability creates a high level of motivation to continue the behavior, leading to high rates of response.

Question 15

The best batters in baseball rarely get a hit more than an average of three out of every 10 times they are at bat.These batters are on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

The best batters in baseball are on a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement, meaning they are reinforced on a variable number of correct responses (hits) rather than a fixed number. This leads to high and consistent rates of behavior (swinging the bat), as the batters are uncertain when they will be rewarded with a hit.

Question 16

Pigeons and rats who are reinforced on fixed interval schedules stop responding immediately after they receive a reinforcer and do not start again until just before the next scheduled reinforcement.This illustrates that these animals are
A) "stuck in time."
B) intuitive thinkers.
C) cognitive time travelers.
D) strongly influenced by circadian rhythms that can help or hinder training.

Accepted Answer

This behavior illustrates that pigeons and rats can anticipate the timing of the next reinforcement, suggesting they have a cognitive understanding of time intervals, akin to "cognitive time travelers."

Question 17

Children who are working quietly on their homework when the hourly bell rings will be allowed to go to the play area for 10 minutes.Just before the bell is about to ring, the children become so quiet that you could hear "a pin drop" in the classroom.These children's quiet behavior occurs right before the bell because they are on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) continuous
B) fixed ratio
C) variable interval
D) fixed interval

Accepted Answer

The children's behavior is reinforced on a fixed interval schedule, as the reinforcement (going to the play area) is provided after a specific, constant amount of time (every hour) if the desired behavior (working quietly) is observed.

Question 18

Your tendency to study more before a scheduled test, to study less right after that test, and then start another studying frenzy right before the next test illustrates the typical pattern of which schedule of reinforcement?
A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

This pattern of behavior is typical of a fixed interval schedule, where responses increase as the time for reinforcement approaches and decrease right after reinforcement is given.

Question 19

Brides-to-be who plan their weddings down to the last detail are exhibiting the human capacity to be
A) first-person observers.
B) intuitive thinkers.
C) cognitive time travelers.
D) self-actualized.

Accepted Answer

Planning a wedding involves envisioning the future and making decisions based on potential outcomes, which can be seen as a form of cognitive time travel. Choosing decorations, venues, and guest lists requires envisioning what the wedding will be like and creating a mental representation of the event.

Question 20

Of the reinforcement schedules listed, which is the most resistant to extinction?
A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) variable ratio
D) continuous reinforcement

Accepted Answer

The variable ratio schedule is the most resistant to extinction because it reinforces behavior after an unpredictable number of responses. This creates a high and steady rate of responding because there is no way to predict exactly when the reinforcement will occur. This unpredictability creates the strongest association between the behavior and the reward.

Quiz 6: Conditioning and Learning.

All interval schedules of reinforcement are

Which schedule of reinforcement tends to produce moderate response rates in which responding is low following reinforcement, but rapidly increases as the time for the next reinforcer approaches?

Because you can think about past events and even imagine events in your future, you, like all humans, are

When a rat is on an FI-20-second schedule for bar pressing, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A dog that gets rewarded for the first bark it makes in each ten minute period is being reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?

A child who gets rewarded with candy on the average of every third time she asks her grandmother for a "treat" is being rewarded on which schedule of reinforcement?

When you are first learning golf, you may hit three or four very good shots in an entire round with these great shots being somewhat random and unpredictable.You are being reinforced on what kind of partial reinforcement schedule?

Getting paid every two weeks at your job comes closest to which schedule of reinforcement?

Jason's parents reward him with a play break after he has worked on his homework for 20 minutes.After 20 more minutes of study, he receives another play break and so on.Jason is on which schedule of reinforcement?

The first correct response made after a set time period has passed is reinforced with responses made during the time period not being reinforced.This statement describes which schedule of reinforcement?

A gambler playing a slot machine is being reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?

If a rat is on an FI-30-second schedule for bar pressing, the rat will be reinforced

Studies of animals, such as pigeons, rats, and scrub jays, show that animals

Two schedules of reinforcement that produce the highest rates of response are

The best batters in baseball rarely get a hit more than an average of three out of every 10 times they are at bat.These batters are on which schedule of reinforcement?

Pigeons and rats who are reinforced on fixed interval schedules stop responding immediately after they receive a reinforcer and do not start again until just before the next scheduled reinforcement.This illustrates that these animals are

Your tendency to study more before a scheduled test, to study less right after that test, and then start another studying frenzy right before the next test illustrates the typical pattern of which schedule of reinforcement?

Brides-to-be who plan their weddings down to the last detail are exhibiting the human capacity to be

Of the reinforcement schedules listed, which is the most resistant to extinction?