Ch 4 Test: Reinforcement

Question 1

A behavior occurs and is immediately followed by a consequence that results in the increased likelihood of the behavior occurring in the future. This process is called:

Answer 1

reinforcement

Question 2

Andy answers a question in class, and is praised by the teacher. As a result, Andy is more likely to answer questions in class. Andy’s behavior of answering questions in class is referred to as ____________ behavior.

Answer 2

operant

Question 3

Mary takes out the garbage and, as a result, her parents let her watch her favorite television show. Mary is then more likely to take out the garbage when asked. Being able to watch her favorite television show is a ____________ for her behavior of taking out the garbage.

Answer 3

reinforcer

Question 4

Which of the following processes strengthen a behavior? a) positive reinforcement b) punishment c) negative reinforcement d) A and C

Answer 4

d

Question 5

Tommy pets a strange dog and is immediately bitten. In behavior modification, getting bitten is referred to as the ______________ for the behavior of petting the dog.

Answer 5

consequence

Question 6

Barry throws the football into the stands after scoring a touchdown, and is cheered by the fans. As a result, Barry is more likely to throw the ball into the stands whenever he scores a touchdown. This is an example of:

Answer 6

positive reinforcement

Question 7

Timmy swears whenever his mom makes broccoli for dinner. Timmy’s mom always sends him to his room without dinner when he swears. As a result, Timmy is more likely to swear when his mom makes broccoli. This is an example of:

Answer 7

negative reinforcement

Question 8

An object or event that can be detected by the senses is referred to as a:

Answer 8

stimulus

Question 9

The stimulus presented following the behavior in positive reinforcement is called:

Answer 9

a positive reinforcer

Question 10

The stimulus removed or avoided following the behavior in negative reinforcement is referred to as the ___________ stimulus.

Answer 10

aversive

Question 11

In which of the following processes is the behavior more likely to occur in the future? a) positive reinforcement b) positive punishment c) negative punishment d) A and C

Answer 11

a

Question 12

In behavior modification, reinforcement is defined by its effect on behavior. This is referred to as:

Answer 12

a functional definition

Question 13

Which of the following is NOT a question to ask when trying to decide whether a situation represents positive or negative reinforcement? a) what is the behavior? b) did the stimulus appear to be pleasant? c) was the stimulus added or removed? d) was the behavior more likely to occur?

Answer 13

b

Question 14

On weekends, Laura comes home on time so that she is not grounded by her parents. Coming home on time in order to avoid being grounded is an example of:

Answer 14

avoidance behavior

Question 15

Andrew wants to play baseball with his friends. Before Andrew can play, his parents tell him that he has to clean his room, which he hates to do. Requiring Andrew to clean his room before he can play baseball with his friends is an example of:

Answer 15

the Premack Principle

Question 16

Whenever Matt makes a 3 point shot, his basketball coach makes him run one less lap in practice. As a result Matt is more likely to hit 3 point shots. This is an example of:

Answer 16

negative reinforcement

Question 17

Which of the following is NOT an example of an unconditioned reinforcer? a) food b) water c) money d) escape from extreme heat

Answer 17

c

Question 18

Money is an example of a(n): a) conditioned reinforcer b) conditioned stimulus c) unconditioned reinforcer d) unconditioned stimulus

Answer 18

a

Question 19

Which of the following influences the effectiveness of reinforcement? a) immediacy b) contingency c) establishing operations d) all of these

Answer 19

d

Question 20

Whenever Tony puts money into a pop machine, he gets a can of pop. Tony never gets pop out of the machine when he does not put money in. This is an example of __________ existing between putting money in the machine and getting pop out.

Answer 20

a contingency

Question 21

Beth has been hiking in the desert all day and, as a result, is dying for a glass of water. The increase in the reinforcing value of water due to hiking in the desert is referred to as:

Answer 21

deprivation

Question 22

John just ate a big Thanksgiving dinner. When John is offered a piece of his favorite pie he declines. The decrease in the reinforcing value of pie for John is an example of:

Answer 22

satiation

Question 23

Which of the following are factors that influence the effectiveness of reinforcement? a) different reinforcers work for different people b) larger reinforcers are generally more effective c) A and B d) none of the above

Answer 23

c

Question 24

Nicole’s teacher praises her for every math problem that she completes. This is an example of a(n) _____________ reinforcement schedule.

Answer 24

continuous

Question 25

Tim is just learning to read. Which reinforcement schedule would be the most effective for him?

Answer 25

continuous

Question 26

An intermittent schedule of reinforcement is most effective for _____________ a behavior.

Answer 26

maintaining

Question 27

Tom’s supervisor tells him that for every 10 cars Tom sells he will get a $500 bonus. This is an example of a _______________ reinforcement schedule.

Answer 27

fixed ratio

Question 28

A telemarketer has to make a certain number of calls before a sale is made. However, the telemarketer does not know the exact number of calls that will be required in order to make a sale. This is an example of a _________ schedule of reinforcement:

Answer 28

variable ratio

Question 29

In a ____________ reinforcement schedule, the reinforcer is delivered for the first response following an average of X amount of time.

Answer 29

variable interval

Question 30

Which schedule of reinforcement produces high, steady rates of responding with very little interruption after delivery of the reinforcer?

Answer 30

variable ratio

Question 31

All the reinforcement schedules that are in effect for a person’s behavior at one time are referred to as ______________ schedules of reinforcement.

Answer 31

concurrent

Question 32

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ is the researcher who first demonstrated the Law of Effect.

Answer 32

Thorndike

Question 33

In Skinner’s experiments, a rat pressed a lever and received food. This process strengthened lever pressing. The food is a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. The lever pressing is a(n)\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_. The process is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 33

reinforcer, behavior/operant behavior, reinforcement

Question 34

A(n) _________ is a behavior strengthened through the process of reinforcement.

Answer 34

operant

Question 35

The consequence that strengthens an operant behavior is a(n) \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 35

reinforcer

Question 36

In the Premack principle, the opportunity to engage in a(n) ____________ is used as a reinforcer for a low probability behavior.

Answer 36

high probability behavior

Question 37

A(n) _________________ increases the potency of a reinforcer.

Answer 37

establishing

Question 38

A(n) _________________ increases the potency of a reinforcer.

Answer 38

continuous reinforcement

Question 39

In _________________ reinforcement, a stimulus is removed following the behavior to strengthen the behavior.

Answer 39

negative

Question 40

In _________________ reinforcement, a stimulus is presented following the behavior to strengthen the behavior.

Answer 40

positive

Question 41

When a person has just had a large amount of a reinforcer, will the reinforcer be more or less effective at that time? What is this process called?

Answer 41

less satiated

Question 42

When a person has not experienced a reinforcer for a long time, will the reinforcer be more or less effective? What is this process called?

Answer 42

more deprivation

Question 43

A schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered after X number of responses is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 43

fixed ratio

Question 44

A schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered for the first response occurring after X amount of time is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 44

fixed interval

Question 45

A schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered for the first response occurring after X amount of time on the average is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 45

variable interval

Question 46

A schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer is delivered after X number of responses on the average is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.

Answer 46

variable ratio

Question 47

T or F A reinforcer works best when it follows the behavior immediately.

Answer 47

T

Question 48

T or F Negative reinforcement decreases a behavior in the future.

Answer 48

F

Question 49

T or F An establishing operation is an event that makes a reinforcer more potent at a particular time.

Answer 49

T

Question 50

T or F A conditioned reinforcer is a reinforcer that is effective without any prior learning or conditioning.

Answer 50

F

Question 51

T or F An unconditioned reinforcer is a reinforcer that is effective without any prior learning or conditioning.

Answer 51

T

Question 52

T or F If an aversive stimulus is removed following the behavior, the behavior is less likely to occur in the future.

Answer 52

F

Question 53

T or F If a positive reinforcer is delivered following the behavior, the behavior is more likely to occur in the future.

Answer 53

T

Question 54

T or F In a Fixed Interval schedule, a reinforcer is delivered after a period of time has elapsed.

Answer 54

F

Question 55

T or F In a Fixed Ratio schedule, a reinforcer is delivered after X number of responses on the average.

Answer 55

F

Question 56

T or F In negative reinforcement, an aversive stimulus is removed following the behavior and the behavior is more likely to occur in the future.

Answer 56

T

Question 57

Define reinforcement

Answer 57

a process in which a behavior is strengthened by the immediate consequences that reliably follows its occurrence.

Question 58

In positive reinforcement, what happens immediately following the occurrence of the behavior?

Answer 58

It is followed by the addition of a stimulus or an increase in intensity of a stimulus which results in the strengthening of the behavior.

Question 59

In negative reinforcement, what happens immediately following the occurrence of the behavior?

Answer 59

It is followed by the removal of a stimulus or a decrease in the intensity of a stimulus which results in the strengthening of a behavior.

Question 60

What is an aversive stimulus?

Answer 60

In negative reinforcement, the stimulus that is removed or avoided following the behavior is called an aversive stimulus.

Question 61

How does escape behavior differ from avoidance behavior?

Answer 61

In escape behavior, the occurrence of the behavior results in the termination of an aversive stimulus that was already present when the behavior occurred. In avoidance behavior, the occurrence of the behavior prevents the presentation of an aversive stimulus

Question 62

What are a couple examples of **positive** unconditioned reinforcers?

Answer 62

food, water, and sexual stimulation

Question 63

What are a couple examples of **negative** unconditioned reinforcers?

Answer 63

pain, cold, heat, or discomforting or aversive stimulation

Question 64

What are three examples of generalized conditioned reinforcers?

Answer 64

* parent’s attention * money * grades

Question 65

Identify the five factors that influence the effectiveness of reinforcement.

Answer 65

1. immediacy, 2. consistency of the consequence, 3. motivating operations, 4. individual differences, and 5. magnitude of the reinforcer