Chapter 5: Basics of Operant Conditioning
This part of the three-term contingency signals that reinforcment is available.
a. discriminant stimulus (SD)
b. operant response (R)
c. reinforcer (SR)
Discriminative Stimulus (SD)
A behavior that is reinforced every single time it occurs is on a __________ schedule.
Continuous Reinforcement
Taking ibuprofen after a headache starts is an example of:
Escape or Avoidance
Escape
According to Tolman, rats learn a mental representation of their environment called a ____________
a. schema
b. reinforced memory
c. expectation
d. cognitive map
D. Cognitive map
Name the Consequence: A child cleans their room and receives $5 from their parents. The child begins cleaning more often.
(reminder: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment)
Positive Reinforcement
added money (positive) to increase behavior (rienforcement)
Which procedure teaches a new behavior by reinforcing increasingly closer approximations to a target behavior?
a. shaping
b. chaining
A. Shaping
Shaping reinforcers supports successive approximations towards a single behavior; whereas chaining teaches steps towards a sequence of behavior.
This reinforcement schedule is most associated with slot machines (unpredictable amount of pulls = prize) and is highly resistant to extinction.
a. variable interval
b. fixed ratio
c. variable ratio
d. fixed interval
C. Variable Ratio
unpredictable (variable) number (ratio) of pulls = reinforcement
This theory argues that avoidance behavior persists because organisms form expectations that are continuously confirmed.
a. cognitive theory
b. avoidance theory
c. reinforcement theory
A. Cognitive Theory
Learning that occurs silently without reinforcement and is demonstrated once reinforcement becomes available is called:
a. latent learning
b. passive learning
A. Latent Learning
Name the Consequence: To block out loud and annoying background noise while studying, a student starts wearing earplugs. The student then begins using earplugs more frequently.
(reminder: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment)
Negative Reinforcement
removes aversive loud noise (negative) to increase wearing earplugs (reinforcement)
A pgieon repeatedly spins before food is delivered, even though spinning has no effect on food delivery, but it was accidentally reinforced. This is called:
Superstitious Behavior
Random behavior that is accidentally reinforced.
A student studies very little after a weekly Monday quiz but increasingly studies as the next quiz approaches. This pattern is characteristic of what schedule?
a. variable interval
b. fixed interval
Fixed Interval
A set (fixed) amount of time (interval) reinforces behavior
Paying a bill before the due date to prevent late fees is an example of _______.
Avoidance
This principle states that a high-probability behavior can reinforce a low-probability behavior.
Premack's Principle
Name the Consequence: A basketball player repeatedly misses practice. The coach removes the player's privilege of starting the next game, and the player becomes more consistent with attendance.
(reminder: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment)
Negative Punishment
the coach removes the preferred activity of starting in the game (negative) to decrease missed practices (punishment)
A parent teaches a child to brush their teeth by first teaching them to pick up the toothbrush, then apply toothpaste, then brush, then rinse. This is an example of __________
Chaining or Forward Chaining
Responding on a reinforcement schedule is stronger if the reinforcers are _____ and delivered_________
a. large and delayed
b. small and consistent
c. large and consistent
d. large and require effort
C. Large and Consistent
Reinforcement is strong when reinforcers are - large, presented at a high rate/consistent, immediate, and do not require substantial effort
This theory proposes that avoidance is reinforced because the behavior removes a fear-eliciting conditioned stimulus.
a. One-factor theory
b. Two-factor theory
c. Cognitive theory
B. Two-Factor Theory
First fear learned through classical conditioning, and Then avoidance response is reinforced because it removes the fear‑eliciting CS.
Transported "car rats" that later navigate a maze successfully provide evidence for this type of learning?
Did not have to engage in the behavior directly to learn (active learning), but could learn through continuous exposure (passive learning).
Name the Consequence: A teenager repeatedly leaves dirty dishes in the living room. Each time it happens, their parent assigns an extra household chore. The behavior decreases.
(reminder: positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, negative punishment)
Positive Punishment
the parents add an aversive task of more chores (positive) to decrease dirty dishes left in the living room (punishment)
If a pigeon repeatedly pecks a light that predicts food, even though pecking is not required, but they have associated the cue (classical conditioning) with food delivery...what is happening:
a. shaping
b. autoshaping
c. reinforcement
d. superstitious behavior
B. Autoshaping
Autoshaping is a process in which a cue is classically conditioned to a reinforcer, and animals engage with the cue because they know the cue = reinforcer, even though they do not need to interact with it.
Example: stepping towards elevator when the light flashes and bell dings
A person checks their email throughout the day at a slow, steady rate because messages may arrive unpredictably. Which schedule is this?
(Variable Ratio, Fixed Ratio, Variable Interval, Fixed Interval)
Variable Interval
Checking at random (variable) times (intervals) for possible reinforcement.
A teacher consistently punishes a behavior, but the student continues engaging in it because the behavior is highly reinforcing. Which factor affecting punishment effectiveness is MOST likely responsible?
a. intensity
b. immediacy
c. motivation
d. consistency
C. Motivation
the student's motivation to engage in the behavior is so reinforcing, it outweighs the punishment
____ demand is highly sensitive to changes in “price” (consumption decreases) and ______ demand remains valuable despite increased effort or “price”.
a. inelastic; elastic
b. high; low
c. elastic; inelastic
d. reinforced; punished
C. Elastic; Inelastic
A student frequently procrastinates on assignments.
To address the problem:
1. When the student begins an assignment early, their anxiety decreases.
2. When the student completes an assignment on time, they earn points toward an end-of-semester reward.
Name both consequences operating in this scenario
Negative Reinforcement - anxiety is removed and starting assignements early increases
Positive Reinforcement - addition of extra points increases submission on time