Question 1

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 occurred 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 behavior occurred right before the hourly bell, which suggests that it is being reinforced on a fixed interval schedule. This means that the reinforcement (going to the play area) is delivered after a fixed amount of time has passed (one hour), regardless of how much work the children have completed. The fact that they become quiet just before the bell suggests that they have learned to associate this behavior with the upcoming reinforcement, which is a characteristic of fixed interval schedules.

Question 2

Catching fish is on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) variable interval
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) fixed ratio

Accepted Answer

The answer of Catching fish is on which schedule of...

Question 3

Stimuli effective in the stimulus control of behavior often influence
A) whether a response will occur initially.
B) the frequency a response will occur over long periods of time.
C) the intensity of a response when it does occur.
D) when and where a response will occur.

Accepted Answer

Stimuli that are effective in the stimulus control of behavior typically influence when and where a response will occur, rather than whether a response will occur initially or the frequency or intensity of the response.

Question 4

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 memory.
C) can remember up to a day only.
D) are sensitive to the passage of time.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that animals, such as pigeons, rats, and scrub jays, are sensitive to the passage of time. They have the ability to remember events that occurred in the past, and can anticipate future events based on their memory of time intervals. For example, pigeons can be trained to peck a key after a certain amount of time has passed, indicating that they have a sense of time. Therefore, option D is the best choice. Options A, B, and C are incorrect as they imply that animals are not capable of time perception and memory beyond short-term abilities.

Question 5

Which schedule of reinforcement involves reinforcement being given for the first correct response made after a varied amount of time has passed since the last reinforced response?
A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable interval
D) variable ratio

Accepted Answer

The schedule of reinforcement that involves reinforcement being given for the first correct response made after a varied amount of time has passed since the last reinforced response is called variable interval. This means that the reinforcement is not given on a regular or fixed schedule, but rather on a variable schedule, with the time between reinforcement being unpredictable. This type of reinforcement schedule is often used in real-world situations, such as in job performance evaluations, where employees may receive a raise or bonus at unpredictable intervals based on their performance.

Question 6

Watching the night sky and seeing "a shooting star" is reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) variable interval
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) fixed ratio

Accepted Answer

Seeing a shooting star is a behavior that occurs randomly and not as a result of any specific action or repetition. Therefore, it is best reinforced on a variable interval schedule, where reinforcements are delivered after a random amount of time has passed.

Question 7

A teacher tells her first graders that whenever the bell on her clock rings,the students who are in their seats will each receive one token to put in their "happy jars." She then says,"No one knows when the clock will ring.It might be ten minutes,it might be 17 minutes,or only five minutes; so you better be in your seat." The teacher is using which schedule of reinforcement for "in-seat" behavior?
A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Accepted Answer

The teacher is using a variable interval schedule of reinforcement because the reinforcement (the bell ringing and the distribution of tokens) is given at unpredictable time intervals, encouraging students to maintain the desired behavior (staying in their seats) continuously since they do not know when the next reinforcement will come.

Question 8

Which of the following schedules of reinforcement produces a slow,steady response rate with a tremendous resistance to extinction?
A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable interval
D) continuous reinforcement

Accepted Answer

Variable interval schedules of reinforcement typically produce a moderate, steady rate of response, with responses being reinforced after an unpredictable amount of time has passed. This unpredictability leads to a high resistance to extinction because the behavior is reinforced at varying intervals, making it less likely for the behavior to decrease even when reinforcement is no longer provided.

Question 9

When people dial a phone number and get a busy signal,they may have to wait 30 seconds or 30 minutes in order to get through with most people doggedly dialing over and over again until they get a connection.This illustrates that the reward of "getting through" to the other person is on which schedule of reinforcement?
A) variable interval
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) continuous

Accepted Answer

The answer of When people dial a phone number and...

Question 10

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

The answer of Pigeons and rats who are reinforced on...

Question 11

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 is an example of a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement since the paycheck is delivered at a fixed time interval (every two weeks).

Question 12

Regarding research on whether animals are sensitive to a passage of time,which of the following statements is FALSE?
A) Pigeons put in a Skinner box with a pecking key on each wall were not able to learn to peck at different keys based on the time of day.
B) Rats on fixed interval schedules stop responding immediately after they received a reinforcer and did not start again until just before the next scheduled reinforcement.
C) When scrub jays were allowed to hoard nuts in one location and worms in another, they would go directly to the worms if they were released four hours later.
D) When scrub jays were allowed to hoard nuts in one location and worms in another, they would go directly to the nuts if they were released five days later.

Accepted Answer

The statement that pigeons were not able to learn to peck at different keys based on time of day is false. In fact, research has shown that they can learn to discriminate between different schedules of reinforcement based on the time interval between reinforcements.

Question 13

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

Jason's play breaks are being given after a fixed interval of time (20 minutes), which fits the definition of fixed interval reinforcement. The other options do not match the pattern described in the scenario.

Question 14

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

Brides-to-be who plan their weddings down to the last detail are exhibiting cognitive time travel, which refers to the human ability to mentally project oneself into the past or the future. They are imagining and anticipating their future wedding day and all of its details.

Question 15

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 studying before a test, taking a break after the test, and then studying intensely before the next test is similar to a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement. The reinforcement (the test grade) occurs after a fixed amount of time (the interval between tests), which leads to an increase in the behavior (studying) as the next test approaches.

Question 16

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 think about past events and imagine future events involves mental time travel, making choice C the best answer. Choice A can be argued to be partially correct, but is not specific enough to capture the full picture. Choice B is not a commonly used term and does not accurately describe the cognitive process being referred to. Choice D is not directly relevant to the given information.

Question 17

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 for the first bark it makes in each ten-minute period, which suggests that the reinforcement is delivered at a fixed interval of time (10 minutes) regardless of the number of barks made during that interval. This is a characteristic of the fixed interval schedule of reinforcement.

Question 18

Stimuli that consistently precede a rewarded response tend to influence when and where the response will occur.This is the principle of
A) the partial reinforcement effect.
B) stimulus control.
C) latent learning.
D) the law of effect.

Accepted Answer

The principle described is stimulus control. Stimuli that consistently precede a rewarded response become associated with that response and can influence when and where the response occurs. This is the basis for many behavioral techniques, such as operant conditioning and behavior modification. The other options, partial reinforcement effect, latent learning, and the law of effect, do not directly relate to the described principle.

Question 19

The phenomenon of stimulus control makes it clear that stimuli that affect operant responding
A) are those that elicit a genetically predisposed response.
B) always occur after the response.
C) may occur before the response.
D) are those that satisfy basic biological needs.

Accepted Answer

Stimulus control refers to the phenomenon where the occurrence of a particular behavior is influenced by the presence or absence of specific stimuli. These stimuli may occur before the behavior (antecedents) or after the behavior (consequences), but in the case of operant conditioning, the antecedents are crucial in determining the likelihood of the behavior occurring. Therefore, option C is the correct choice as it acknowledges the fact that stimuli may occur before the behavior to influence operant responding.

Question 20

After scrub jays were allowed to store worms and nuts in different locations,the scrub jays released after four hours flew to the worms,but did not fly to the worms if they are released five days later.This illustrates that the scrub jays
A) had forgotten where they had hidden the worms after one day.
B) realized that the worms would be decayed after one day.
C) were not sensitive to a passage of time.
D) were "stuck in time."

Accepted Answer

The scrub jays' behavior of flying to the worms after four hours but not after five days suggests they understood that the worms would not be suitable to eat after a certain period, indicating an awareness of the decay process rather than forgetting the location or being insensitive to time.

Quiz 6: B: Conditioning and Learning

Catching fish is on which schedule of reinforcement?

Stimuli effective in the stimulus control of behavior often influence

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

Which schedule of reinforcement involves reinforcement being given for the first correct response made after a varied amount of time has passed since the last reinforced response?

Watching the night sky and seeing "a shooting star" is reinforced on which schedule of reinforcement?

Which of the following schedules of reinforcement produces a slow,steady response rate with a tremendous resistance to extinction?

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

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

Regarding research on whether animals are sensitive to a passage of time,which of the following statements is FALSE?

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?

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

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?

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

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

Stimuli that consistently precede a rewarded response tend to influence when and where the response will occur.This is the principle of

The phenomenon of stimulus control makes it clear that stimuli that affect operant responding

After scrub jays were allowed to store worms and nuts in different locations,the scrub jays released after four hours flew to the worms,but did not fly to the worms if they are released five days later.This illustrates that the scrub jays