Check Your Knowledge Module 6
1
A consequence is defined by Skinner as a reinforcer or a punisher
depending on whether it...:
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A. Increases or decreases the frequency of the behaviour that it
follows.
B. Is designed to promote desirable behaviour or suppress
undesirable behaviour.
C. Is pleasurable or uncomfortable for the subject receiving the
consequence.
D. Occurs antecedent to, or as a consequence of, the behaviour.
Feedback
Explanation: According to Skinner, whether a stimulus is a reinforcer
or a punisher depends on whether the stimulus increases or
decreases the behaviour that it follows. If the consequence
increases the behaviour that it follows, it is a reinforcer. If the
consequence decreases or suppresses the behaviour, the
consequence is a punishment.
2
During music class, Lisa enthusiastically sings aloud with her class,
but the teacher comments, "Lisa, please.... You sound like an owl in
a torture chamber." Lisa turns bright red. The next week she feels ill
when it is time to go to music class again.
Feeling anxiety at the prospect of going to music class is an
example of...:
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A. An unconditioned stimulus.
B. Classical conditioning.
C. Cognitive learning.
D. Social learning.
Feedback
Explanation: Lisa's reaction most clearly illustrates classical
conditioning. Evidently, she is now associating music class with
embarrassment due to the earlier pairing of her singing (and music
class) with the teacher's public criticism of her performance.
3
The Premack Principle states that...:
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A. A less-preferred activity is postponed until after a preferred
activity.
B. A preferred activity is withheld until rewards are earned.
C. A preferred activity is a reinforcer for a less-preferred activity.
D. Less-preferred activities can be very effective as punishment
activities.
Feedback
Explanation: The Premack Principle uses a preferred activity as a
reinforcer for a less preferred activity. An example is, 'Clean your
room and then you can watch T.V.'
4
What schedule of reinforcement is most likely to be involved when
teachers give 'pop' quizzes?
1/1
A. Fixed-interval
B. Fixed-ratio
C. Variable-interval
D. Variable-ratio
Feedback
Explanation: Pop quizzing employs a variable-interval schedule.
Students never know when the time of the quiz will be. This
schedule fosters consistent response: students studying each night
for a possible quiz the next day.
5
Slot machines that pay off after an indeterminate number of uses
illustrate which schedule of reinforcement?
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A. Fixed-interval
B. Fixed-ratio
C. Variable-interval
D. Variable-ratio
Feedback
Explanation: Slot machines use a variable-ratio schedule of
reinforcement by rewarding the gambler after a variable
(indeterminate) number of plays that changes rapidly and
consistently from trial to trial. This schedule will motivate many
gamblers to respond consistently, a very reinforcing schedule for
casinos!
6
Shaping is an appropriate method for developing new behaviour
when...:
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A. No appropriate reinforcers can be found.
B. Performance is otherwise too poor to gain reinforcement.
C. Students are capable of the behaviour but seldom perform it.
D. There is no one available to model the appropriate behaviour.
Feedback
Explanation: Shaping, also called successive approximations,
involves reinforcing progress toward a response rather than
requiring the complete response. This procedure may be particularly
effective when performance is otherwise too poor to gain
reinforcement (i.e., the learner is making progress, but is unlikely to
be capable of performing the full response).
7
An example of the use of positive practice is having students...:
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A. Develop sentences using commonly misused words.
B. Ignore mistakes and practice the items they know.
C. Study a list of commonly misspelled words.
D. Write "I will not chew gum" 100 times.
Feedback
Explanation: Positive practice is a strategy that makes students
correct a mistake by practicing the correct response. An example
would be using a misspelled word in new sentences.
8
In an experiment, an electric can-opener is used to open a can, and
no salivation by the subject is detected. After a number of pairings
between the can opener's operation and food, any time the can-
opener is used, the subject salivates.
The conditioned response in this study is the...:
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A. Can opener.
B. Food.
C. Salivation to the can-opener.
D. Salivation to the food.
Feedback
Explanation: The conditioned response (CS) in this experiment
would be salivation to the can opener. Prior to the pairing of the
neutral stimulus, can-opener, with the unconditioned stimulus, food,
this response did not occur. It needed to be learned or 'conditioned.'
9
17-year-old Kelly receives a ticket for speeding. Her parents take
away the privilege of using the car. Her parents are using...:
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A. Negative reinforcement.
B. Positive reinforcement.
C. Presentation punishment.
D. Removal punishment.
Feedback
Explanation: Kelly's parents are using removal punishment, which is
defined as taking something positive (car use) away as a
consequence for misbehaviour (the speeding ticket).
10
Removing an aversive stimulus to increase the frequency of a
behaviour exemplifies...:
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A. Negative reinforcement.
B. Positive reinforcement.
C. Presentation punishment.
D. Removal punishment.
Feedback
Explanation: Removing an aversive stimulus to increase the
frequency of a behaviour is negative reinforcement. The key
element is 'reinforcement', that occurs in this case by taking
something 'negative' away.
