Learning Theory: Psychology Exam! Quiz

1. A student does a good job on math problems for homework, and the teacher awards a sticker. Does this demonstrate the use of?

Extinction.

Reinforcement.

Spontaneous recovery.

Antecedents.

The sticker acts as a reinforcer. This behavior is not based on reflexes but rather higher-order behavior and therefore strengthens the behavior.

Explanation

The sticker acts as a reinforcer. This behavior is not based on reflexes but rather higher-order behavior and therefore strengthens the behavior.

2. A child has learned to avoid a furry, black cat. However, she still plays with her grandmother's short-haired tabby. Her response demonstrates:

Negative transfer.

Extinction.

Discrimination.

Successive approximation.

This is the concept of discrimination. She only associated the furry black cat as having the negative pairing and therefore still plays with her grandma's cat. Now if she avoided them both, she would be demonstrating generalization.

Explanation

This is the concept of discrimination. She only associated the furry black cat as having the negative pairing and therefore still plays with her grandma's cat. Now if she avoided them both, she would be demonstrating generalization.

3. In a classic experiment, "Little Albert," a very young boy, was conditioned to be afraid of a rat. He also became fearful of white furry rabbits and bearded men. This is an example of

Spontaneous recovery.

Higher order conditioning.

Extinction.

Stimulus generalization

This is the concept of generalization

Explanation

This is the concept of generalization

4. Jimmy helps his father put away the dishes after dinner. Jimmy's father wants to increase the probability of this behavior and will be most successful by praising Jimmy.

After all the dishes are put away.

At bedtime.

The next morning at breakfast.

The next time they are putting away dishes.

This is a schedule of reinforcement and to achieve the behavior quickly, Jimmy's dad should do this every time Jimmy puts away the dishes.

Explanation

This is a schedule of reinforcement and to achieve the behavior quickly, Jimmy's dad should do this every time Jimmy puts away the dishes.

5. In __________ reinforcement, the reinforcer follows every correct response.

Intermittent

Partial

Negative

Continuous

Remember that continuous reinforcement is the fastest at acquisition but also has the fastest extinction rates.

Explanation

Remember that continuous reinforcement is the fastest at acquisition but also has the fastest extinction rates.

6. After a response has been extinguished, it will often reappear after a short time has passed. This is called

Adaptiveness.

Expectation checking.

Extinction recovery.

Spontaneous recovery.

This C.C pricnciple is defined as Spontaneous Recovery.

Explanation

This C.C pricnciple is defined as Spontaneous Recovery.

7. Operant conditioning was studied by:

Pavlov.

Maslow.

Freud.

Skinner.

Pavlov and Watson are Classical Cond. Maslow is a Humanist, Freud is a psychoanalysist, Bandura studied Observable Learning. Skinner is your key Op. Cond. guy

Explanation

Pavlov and Watson are Classical Cond. Maslow is a Humanist, Freud is a psychoanalysist, Bandura studied Observable Learning. Skinner is your key Op. Cond. guy

8. If the conditioned stimulus is presented many times without reinforcement, we can expect:

An increase in stimulus generalization.

The strength of the UR to increase.

An increase in response generalization.

Extinction to occur.

This is the definition of extinction.

Explanation

This is the definition of extinction.

9. In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, the conditioned stimulus was the:

Food.

Bell.

Salivation to the food

Salivation to the bell.

The bell. Remember that the conditioned stimulus starts out as the neutral stimulus and should not elicit the response but only through its paring with the UCS does it begin to elicit the CR.

Explanation

The bell. Remember that the conditioned stimulus starts out as the neutral stimulus and should not elicit the response but only through its paring with the UCS does it begin to elicit the CR.

10. In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, the bell (prior to conditioning) was the

Neutral stimulus.

Unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus.

Unconditioned response.

See above

Explanation

See above

11. A dog that gets rewarded for the first bark it makes in each ten minute period is being reinforced on a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Continuous

Fixed interval

Variable interval

Fixed ratio

No matter how many times the dog barks, he will still not be rewarded until 10 minutes has gone by and it is always ten minutes therefore we are dealing with a fixed amount of time so this is a fixed interval schedule.

Explanation

No matter how many times the dog barks, he will still not be rewarded until 10 minutes has gone by and it is always ten minutes therefore we are dealing with a fixed amount of time so this is a fixed interval schedule.

12. Negative reinforcement __________ responding; punishment __________ responding.

Increases; increases

Decreases; decreases

Increases; decreases

Decreases; increases

This follows my op.cond 2 questions rules.

Explanation

This follows my op.cond 2 questions rules.

13. If you have a snake phobia because you once heard a loud noise while looking at a snake, for you a snake is a(n)

US.

CS.

UR.

CR.

The snake should not naturally elicit fear therefore it starts as the neutral stimuli and then becomes the Conditioned Stimulus.

Explanation

The snake should not naturally elicit fear therefore it starts as the neutral stimuli and then becomes the Conditioned Stimulus.

14. __________ occurs when making a response removes an unpleasant event.

Positive reinforcement

Negative reinforcement

Extinction

Punishment

This is the concept of Neg. Reinforcement. Remember that the concepts of Escape and Avoidance learning fall under this principle.

Explanation

This is the concept of Neg. Reinforcement. Remember that the concepts of Escape and Avoidance learning fall under this principle.

15. In Pavlov's experiments with dogs, salivation was the

Conditioned response.

Unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned stimulus

Unconditioned response.

Technically the salivating started out as the unconditioned response to the food. It later becomes the conditioned response to the bell/tone. Remember that C.C is based on naturally occurring reflexes.

Explanation

Technically the salivating started out as the unconditioned response to the food. It later becomes the conditioned response to the bell/tone. Remember that C.C is based on naturally occurring reflexes.

16. Which of the following might serve as a secondary reinforcer?

Sex

Grades

Food

A pain-relieving drug

Remember that secondary reinforcers are NOT essentail for survival and often times will help aid in getting primary inforcers.

Explanation

Remember that secondary reinforcers are NOT essentail for survival and often times will help aid in getting primary inforcers.

17. The presentation of an aversive stimulus or the removal of a positive stimulus are both examples of?

Negative reinforcement.

Punishment.

Positive reinforcement.

Secondary reinforcement

Both of these would weaken a behavior therefore they are types of punishment. Remember to always ask yourself when dealing with Op. Cond., 1) Was the behavior strengthened or weakened? 2) Was something added or taken away.

Explanation

Both of these would weaken a behavior therefore they are types of punishment. Remember to always ask yourself when dealing with Op. Cond., 1) Was the behavior strengthened or weakened? 2) Was something added or taken away.

18. The first-grade teacher gives students stickers when they perform well. If they earn five stickers in one day they are exempt from homework. The stickers in this example could also be called

Tokens.

Primary reinforcers.

Generalized reinforcers.

Prepotent responses

This is the concept of a token economy. Token economies should always be associated with op. cond.

Explanation

This is the concept of a token economy. Token economies should always be associated with op. cond.

19. The greatest degree of resistance to extinction is typically caused by a __________ schedule of reinforcement.

Variable interval

Variable ratio

Fixed interval

Fixed ratio

The reason for this is because you are dealing with time and it is variable, therefore regardless of response and a set time, the subject doesn't know when they will be rewarded. The next strongest would be variable ratio, then the fixed interval, followed by a fixed ratio, then continuous reinforcement.

Explanation

The reason for this is because you are dealing with time and it is variable, therefore regardless of response and a set time, the subject doesn't know when they will be rewarded. The next strongest would be variable ratio, then the fixed interval, followed by a fixed ratio, then continuous reinforcement.

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

Continuous and fixed interval.

Fixed interval and variable interval.

Variable interval and variable ratio.

Fixed ratio and variable ratio.

We discussed this above

Explanation

We discussed this above