Question 1

Richard tells his new joke to three different people,and each one of them laughs.Because telling the joke led to laughter,which Richard enjoys,Richard will be more likely to tell this joke to other people.This situation illustrates
A)classical conditioning.
B)vicarious conditioning.
C)the law of association.
D)the law of effect.

Accepted Answer

This situation demonstrates the law of effect, which states that behaviors that are followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future. In this case, Richard's telling of the joke led to positive consequences (laughter from others), which increased the likelihood that he would tell the joke again in the future.

Question 2

The type of learning that involves voluntary responses with the animal or person emitting a response is called _______ conditioning.
A)classical
B)operant
C)respondent
D)Pavlovian

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning involves voluntary responses emitted by the animal or person, where the consequences of the response determine the likelihood of the response being repeated in the future. This is in contrast to classical conditioning, where a response is elicited by a stimulus that is associated with another stimulus that naturally evokes the response (also known as respondent conditioning or Pavlovian conditioning).

Question 3

Operant conditioning focuses on how
A)people learn through the association of stimuli.
B)people utilize their inborn reflexive habits.
C)behavior is influenced by its consequences.
D)changes in behavior are related to mental events.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is based on the idea that behavior is shaped by its consequences. Reinforcement or punishment can either increase or decrease the likelihood of a behavior being repeated in the future. This is different from classical conditioning, which focuses on the association of stimuli.

Question 4

Pushing a particular button on the TV remote control is reinforced by gaining the consequence you desire,such as changing channels or muting an obnoxious commercial.This illustrates
A)classical conditioning.
B)vicarious conditioning.
C)the law of association.
D)the law of effect.

Accepted Answer

The scenario described is an example of the law of effect, which states that behaviors that are followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future. Pressing the button on the TV remote control is reinforced because it leads to a desired consequence, such as changing the channel or muting an annoying commercial. This positive consequence makes it more likely that the behavior of pressing the button will be repeated in the future.

Question 5

Learners actively "operate on" the environment with the reinforcer occurring after the response during
A)instrumental learning.
B)classical conditioning.
C)respondent conditioning.
D)reflexive-type learning.

Accepted Answer

Instrumental learning is also known as operant conditioning, in which a learner's behavior is shaped by consequences or reinforcers that occur after the behavior is exhibited. Classical conditioning and respondent conditioning involve the pairing of stimuli to elicit a response, and reflexive-type learning is not a commonly used term.

Question 6

Which of the following types of associative learning is also known as instrumental learning and can be used to alter your own behavior and the behavior of pets,children,and other adults?
A)respondent conditioning
B)operant conditioning
C)classical conditioning
D)Pavlovian conditioning

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is also known as instrumental conditioning and involves learning by consequences. This type of learning can be used to change behaviors not only in animals, but also in humans, including children and adults. Respondent conditioning (also known as classical conditioning or Pavlovian conditioning) involves learning an association between two stimuli, while operant conditioning involves learning an association between a behavior and its consequences.

Question 7

You locate a vending machine and deposit your last bit of change to buy a candy bar.Then you press the button,and nothing happens.You press the other buttons,try the coin return,and look for an attendant.Still nothing happens.Impulsively,you give the machine a little kick,and out pops a candy bar plus 75 cents.Because your kick produced food and money,the odds of repeating the "kicking response" increase.This situation illustrates
A)classical conditioning.
B)vicarious conditioning.
C)the law of association.
D)the law of effect.

Accepted Answer

This situation illustrates the law of effect, which states that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated in the future. The kick produced both a candy bar and more money, which positively reinforced the behavior of kicking the vending machine.

Question 8

The basic principle of which type of learning states that acts that are followed by a positive consequence tend to be repeated?
A)respondent conditioning
B)reflexive learning
C)instrumental learning
D)Pavlovian conditioning

Accepted Answer

The basic principle of instrumental learning, also known as operant conditioning, is that acts that are followed by a positive consequence tend to be repeated. This is in contrast to respondent conditioning (A), also known as classical conditioning or Pavlovian conditioning (D), in which an initially neutral stimulus becomes associated with a reflexive, automatic response (such as salivation in response to the sound of a bell) through repeated pairings with an unconditioned stimulus (such as food). Reflexive learning (B) is a term that is not commonly used in psychology and does not refer to a specific type of learning.

Question 9

In which of the following does the nature of learning involve a neutral stimulus becoming a conditioned stimulus (CS)through its association with an unconditioned stimulus (US)?
A)classical conditioning
B)operant conditioning
C)cognitive learning
D)instrumental learning

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves the process of pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus to ultimately produce a conditioned response to the previously neutral stimulus (now called the conditioned stimulus).

Question 10

Operant conditioning is also known as
A)respondent conditioning.
B)reflexive learning.
C)instrumental learning.
D)Pavlovian conditioning.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is also known as instrumental conditioning, as it involves learning through the consequences of our actions (instruments). Respondent conditioning, also known as classical conditioning, involves the formation of associations between stimuli. Reflexive learning and Pavlovian conditioning are both synonyms of respondent conditioning.

Question 11

In which type of learning do we associate responses with their consequences?
A)respondent learning
B)classical conditioning
C)instrumental learning
D)Pavlovian conditioning

Accepted Answer

Responses are associated with consequences in instrumental learning, also known as operant conditioning. In classical conditioning (also known as Pavlovian conditioning), a neutral stimulus is paired with a naturally occurring stimulus to elicit a response. Respondent learning refers to the learning of automatic responses to certain stimuli, such as reflexes.

Question 12

In Thorndike's law of effect,events critical for conditioning
A)occur after the response.
B)occur before the response.
C)occur simultaneously with the response.
D)are unrelated to the response except during extinction.

Accepted Answer

In Thorndike's law of effect, the critical event for conditioning occurs after the response. This means that the consequence of the behavior (whether it is positive or negative) determines whether the behavior is more or less likely to occur in the future. This is the essence of operant conditioning. For example, if a rat is given a food pellet after it performs a specific behavior (such as pressing a lever), it is more likely to perform that behavior again in the future.

Question 13

A dog is much more likely to keep searching for food under a pillow if it finds food there,but the dog will likely stop looking there if it fails to find food,or finds something frightening.This illustrates _______ conditioning.
A)Pavlovian
B)operant
C)classical
D)respondent

Accepted Answer

This scenario involves operant conditioning, which involves the manipulation of consequences to increase or decrease behaviors. The dog's behavior of searching for food is reinforced by finding food under the pillow. However, if it fails to find food or finds something frightening, the behavior is not reinforced and is therefore less likely to continue. Pavlovian (or classical) conditioning involves the pairing of a neutral stimulus with a reflexive response, while respondent conditioning involves the pairing of a naturally occurring stimulus with a reflexive response. Neither of these types of conditioning are directly applicable to this scenario.

Question 14

The law of effect was proposed by
A)Edward Thorndike.
B)B.F.Skinner.
C)Ivan Pavlov.
D)John B.Watson.

Accepted Answer

The law of effect was first proposed by Edward Thorndike in 1905.

Question 15

Which of the following types of learning involves involuntary responses and passive responding by the animal or person?
A)classical conditioning
B)operant conditioning
C)latent learning
D)instrumental learning

Accepted Answer

Classical conditioning involves the association of a stimulus with an involuntary response, resulting in passive responding by the animal or person.

Question 16

Regarding a comparison of classical and operant conditioning,which of the following statements is FALSE?
A)The learner is active during operant conditioning.
B)The reinforcer occurs before the response during operant conditioning.
C)Classical conditioning involves involuntary responses.
D)Responses are emitted during operant conditioning.

Accepted Answer

In operant conditioning, the reinforcer occurs after the response, not before. This is what distinguishes it from classical conditioning, where the conditioning stimulus comes before the unconditioned stimulus.

Question 17

Which of the following types of learning is strengthened each time a response is followed by a satisfying state of affairs and weakened if the response is followed by an unsatisfying state of affairs?
A)operant conditioning
B)respondent conditioning
C)classical conditioning
D)Pavlovian conditioning

Accepted Answer

This type of learning is known as operant conditioning, which involves strengthening or weakening behavior based on the consequences that follow.

Question 18

Regarding a comparison of classical and operant conditioning,which of the following statements is TRUE?
A)The learner is passive during operant conditioning.
B)The reinforcer occurs before the response during operant conditioning.
C)Classical conditioning involves voluntary responses.
D)Responses are elicited during classical conditioning.

Accepted Answer

In classical conditioning, responses are elicited or automatically triggered by the presentation of a stimulus, while in operant conditioning, the learner actively operates on the environment to produce a desired outcome. Therefore, statement D is true while the other options are incorrect.

Question 19

The best way to differentiate operant conditioning from classical conditioning is to decide if the
A)response is voluntary or involuntary.
B)stimulus is conditioned or unconditioned.
C)consequence comes before or after the response.
D)response is pleasant or unpleasant.

Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning involves learning through consequences or rewards/punishments, where the response is voluntary. In contrast, classical conditioning involves learning through associations between stimuli, where the response is involuntary. Therefore, the best way to differentiate between the two is the voluntary/involuntary aspect of the response.

Question 20

The probability of a response is altered by the effect it has,according to the law of
A)responding.
B)association.
C)effect.
D)diminishing returns.

Accepted Answer

The law of effect states that the probability of a response is altered by the effect it has, meaning that if a response is followed by a satisfying consequence, the response is more likely to occur again in the future. This principle is fundamental in the field of behaviorism and is widely used in behavior modification techniques.

Quiz 30: Conditioning and Learning: Operant Conditioning

Richard tells his new joke to three different people,and each one of them laughs.Because telling the joke led to laughter,which Richard enjoys,Richard will be more likely to tell this joke to other people.This situation illustrates

The type of learning that involves voluntary responses with the animal or person emitting a response is called _______ conditioning.

Operant conditioning focuses on how

Pushing a particular button on the TV remote control is reinforced by gaining the consequence you desire,such as changing channels or muting an obnoxious commercial.This illustrates

Learners actively "operate on" the environment with the reinforcer occurring after the response during

Which of the following types of associative learning is also known as instrumental learning and can be used to alter your own behavior and the behavior of pets,children,and other adults?

The basic principle of which type of learning states that acts that are followed by a positive consequence tend to be repeated?

In which of the following does the nature of learning involve a neutral stimulus becoming a conditioned stimulus (CS) through its association with an unconditioned stimulus (US) ?

Operant conditioning is also known as

In which type of learning do we associate responses with their consequences?

In Thorndike's law of effect,events critical for conditioning

A dog is much more likely to keep searching for food under a pillow if it finds food there,but the dog will likely stop looking there if it fails to find food,or finds something frightening.This illustrates _______ conditioning.

The law of effect was proposed by

Which of the following types of learning involves involuntary responses and passive responding by the animal or person?

Regarding a comparison of classical and operant conditioning,which of the following statements is FALSE?

Which of the following types of learning is strengthened each time a response is followed by a satisfying state of affairs and weakened if the response is followed by an unsatisfying state of affairs?

Regarding a comparison of classical and operant conditioning,which of the following statements is TRUE?

The best way to differentiate operant conditioning from classical conditioning is to decide if the

The probability of a response is altered by the effect it has,according to the law of