Question 1

Outline the strengths and weaknesses of Hull's and Skinner's definitions of reinforcement. Which you think is better? Why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Outline the strengths and weaknesses of Hull's...

Question 2

Explain the assumptions of the Premack principle, and describe some practices based on Premack's principle that could be used to motivate children in a tutoring program to study and complete their homework.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the assumptions of the Premack principle,...

Question 3

Compare and contrast Premack's principle with behavior regulation theory.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compare and contrast Premack's principle with behavior...

Question 4

The figure below shows the time spent eating as a function of lever pressing on an FR 5 schedule. The star is the bliss point. How many responses should you expect to get out of the animal before it stops, and why?

Accepted Answer

The answer of The figure below shows the time spent...

Question 5

Explain the assumptions of the "selection by consequences" model of reinforcement and how this model has affected learning research.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Explain the assumptions of the "selection by...

Question 6

Edwin Guthrie argued that learning occurs as a gradual process because

Accepted Answer

Guthrie proposed that learning occurs in a single trial without the need for repetition or reinforcement, but he acknowledged that only a small subset of the total stimulus situation gets associated with the response at any one time. This means that learning is seen as a gradual process because it involves the accumulation of various stimulus-response connections over time, rather than because the learning itself inherently requires multiple repetitions.

Question 7

Which instrumental learning theorist assumed that behavior is inherently flexible and goal-oriented, and that instrumental associations also involve S-O associations?

Accepted Answer

Edward Tolman is known for his cognitive approach to learning, which includes the concept that behavior is goal-oriented and involves the formation of expectations or cognitive maps, indicating an understanding of the relationship between stimuli and outcomes (S-O associations).

Question 8

Skinner assumed that reinforcement is powerful enough to

Accepted Answer

Skinner's experiments demonstrated that noncontingent reinforcement could lead to superstitious behavior, as organisms may associate the reinforcement with their actions even when there is no causal relationship.

Question 9

The procedure of fading involves gradual changes in

Accepted Answer

Fading involves gradually changing the stimulus complexity, making it less obvious over time, to help the subject respond to more subtle cues.

Question 10

In operant conditioning, the stimulus that sets the occasion for a response to be nonreinforced is a(n)

Accepted Answer

The answer of In operant conditioning, the stimulus that sets...

Question 11

Which term does not belong with the others?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Which term does not belong with the...

Question 12

A behavior chain is

Accepted Answer

A behavior chain is a sequence of behaviors where each behavior or response in the sequence is conditioned to act as a reinforcer for the previous behavior and as a stimulus for the next behavior, with the chain leading to a primary reinforcer at the end.

Question 13

Which schedule results in a conditioned or primary reinforcer after every target behavior?

Accepted Answer

CRF, or Continuous Reinforcement, schedules deliver a reinforcer after every instance of the target behavior, making it the correct choice for the question asked.

Question 14

A rat gets a food pellet every time it presses a lever five times. The rat is on a(n) _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

This is an example of a Fixed Ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement, where a reward is given after a set number of responses. In this case, the rat receives a food pellet every time it presses the lever five times.

Question 15

A pigeon pecks a red key and is reinforced for a peck after either 5 seconds, 10 seconds, 15 seconds, 25 seconds, 30 seconds, or 40 seconds, with these times arranged in random order. The pigeon is on a(n) _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

The pigeon is on a Variable Interval (VI) schedule because reinforcement is provided for the first response after a varying, unpredictable amount of time has passed, rather than after a set number of responses or a fixed interval of time.

Question 16

In general, the schedule that produces the highest and most stable rate of responding is the _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

The Variable Ratio (VR) schedule produces the highest and most stable rate of responding because reinforcement is given after an unpredictable number of responses, which encourages continuous and consistent behavior.

Question 17

A food vending machine presents a variety of options, many with different prices. If we think of price as the equivalent of effort or behavior (i.e., putting in more money requires more effort), the food machine options can be seen as an example of a _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

A concurrent schedule of reinforcement involves the availability of two or more reinforcement schedules, each for a different response and available at the same time. In the case of a food vending machine, each option (food item) can be seen as a different response that requires a specific amount of effort (money) to obtain, making it a concurrent schedule.

Question 18

Many cafeterias have different prices for lunch and dinner offerings, even though the food is the same for both meals. This mixed food pricing, which requires the consumer to pay more depending on the time of day, is a type of _______ schedule.

Accepted Answer

This pricing strategy is an example of a multiple schedule, where different rules (prices, in this case) apply in different situations (time of day), requiring the consumer to adjust their behavior (payment) accordingly.

Question 19

Impulsiveness decreases when

Accepted Answer

The answer of Impulsiveness decreases when
...

Question 20

A rat must press a lever for a variety of food options and access to water. When the schedule requirements for food options and water are varied, lever-pressing for food options varies as the schedule changes, but water consumption is not affected by the food schedule. In this scenario, water would be classified as a(n) _______ commodity.

Accepted Answer

Water consumption remains unaffected by the changes in the schedule for food options, indicating that water acts as an independent commodity in this scenario. Its demand does not change based on the availability or schedule of the food options.

Quiz 7: Behavior and Its Consequences