Classical conditioning
A student sips lemon juice and instantly salivates. Name the unconditioned stimulus and the unconditioned response.
US = lemon juice; UR = salivation (a natural reflex)
In operant conditioning, what does reinforcement do to a behavior’s likelihood, and what does punishment do?
Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior; punishment decreases it.
In one sentence, what does social learning theory say about how we learn behavior?
We often learn by observing and imitating others in social contexts, with behavior shaped by the consequences we see models receive.
True or false: Pavlov trained dogs with a bell. If false, name one stimulus he actually used and why.
False. He used a metronome (also a buzzer/harmonium) because these allowed precise control of timing and intensity
How long is Paper 1, and how many questions do you answer in Sections A, B, and C?
1 hour 30 minutes. Section A = 2 SAQs (answer both); Section B = 2 SAQs (answer both); Section C = 1 ERQ (choose one of two)
Give a simple definition of classical conditioning.
Learning by association: a neutral stimulus is repeatedly paired with an unconditioned stimulus until the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus that elicits a conditioned response
Your car stops beeping once you buckle your seatbelt, making you buckle faster next time. Is this positive or negative reinforcement, and why?
Negative reinforcement — an aversive sound is removed, increasing the seat-buckling behavior
List the four mediating processes that determine whether we copy a model.
Attention, Retention, Motor reproduction, Motivation
In the Little Albert study, fear spread from the white rabbit to other white, fluffy things. What is this effect called?
Stimulus generalization (the learned fear extends to similar stimuli).
What do you produce for the IA, and how many recommended hours should you spend?
A research proposal; ~20 hours recommended.
At first, the school bell means nothing; the smell of fresh bread in the cafeteria makes students hungry. After many days, the bell alone makes them feel hungry. Label the NS, US, UR, CS, CR before and after conditioning.
Before: NS = bell; US = bread smell/food; UR = hunger/salivation. After: CS = bell; CR = hunger/salivation
A student taps the desk twice before quizzes. After a few good scores, they keep doing it, believing it “works.” What operant concept is this, and how does it form?
Superstitious behavior — the action is accidentally reinforced when rewards (good scores) occur noncontingently, so the student falsely links the tap to the outcome.
You watch a classmate get praised for helping. Next day, you help too. What SLT process explains this, and what are you expecting?
Vicarious reinforcement; you’re acting based on outcome expectancies (expecting a similar positive outcome)
In which culture did Ochs observe children, and what was she mainly studying?
Samoa; how children learn language and culture in everyday family life.
How long is Paper 2, and what does Section A vs Section B assess?
1 hour 30 minutes.
Section A: four questions about your class practical
Section B: one ERQ evaluating a provided study using two or more concepts.
In classical conditioning, which stimulus changes its name during learning, and when does the name change happen?
The neutral stimulus changes name to the conditioned stimulus after repeated pairings with the US—when it can elicit the response on its own (now a CR).
A teacher ignores minor calling-out so it gradually disappears. What is this process called? Also, when punishment reduces a behavior, is the behavior unlearned?
It’s extinction (no consequence → behavior fades). Punishment suppresses behavior; it isn’t unlearned and can return when punishment stops.
Why are students more likely to imitate an admired senior than a random peer, even if both do the same behavior?
Identification with the model boosts imitation; plus attention is higher when the model is attractive/authoritative, and copying is easier when self-efficacy supports motor reproduction
According to Ochs, what is the main way Samoan children pick up language and social rules?
By observing and copying older speakers in real interactions (everyday observational learning).
How long is Paper 3, and what do its four questions mainly focus on?
1 hour 45 minutes.Focus on interpreting data, analysing findings, research considerations (e.g., credibility/bias/transferability), and a synthesis ERQ using multiple sources
Put these in the correct order for acquisition:
(A) NS alone → no response
(B) NS + US → UR (repeated pairings)
(C) CS → CR.
A → B → C. First the neutral stimulus causes no response, then repeated pairings with the US produce the UR, and finally the former NS becomes a CS that triggers a CR on its own
A student fights back and the bullying stops, so they fight more often. Identify the operant process. If instead they get a detention for fighting, which process is that and what happens to fighting?
First is negative reinforcement (removal of aversive bullying → fighting increases). Second is positive punishment (detention added → fighting decreases).
Give two concrete steps a school could use to increase prosocial behavior using SLT (name the SLT ideas you’re using).
Example answer: (1) Peer-mentor program where visible student leaders model helping and kindness (identification, attention, retention via repeated exposure). (2) Public praise/recognition boards or shout-outs for prosocial acts to create vicarious reinforcement and raise motivation to imitate.
What key result did Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment show about children’s behavior after watching an adult model?
Children imitated the adult’s aggression (they copied what they saw).
I started out meaningless, just part of the noise.
After dinners with a partner, I soon had a voice.
Now one little ring makes mouths start to pool—
What am I?
hint: I was paired with food until I could trigger the same response on my own.
The conditioned stimulus — Pavlov’s bell.