skinner

Question 1

Who is the founder of operant conditioning?

Answer 1

B.F. Skinner

Question 2

True or False: B.F. Skinner believed that behavior is influenced by environmental factors.

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Fill in the blank: Skinner developed the __________ to study animal behavior.

Answer 3

Skinner Box

Question 4

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 4

A learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment.

Question 5

Multiple choice: What type of reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring?

Answer 5

Positive reinforcement

Question 6

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 6

The removal of an unpleasant stimulus to increase the likelihood of a behavior.

Question 7

True or False: Punishment is intended to increase a behavior.

Answer 7

False

Question 8

Name one type of schedule of reinforcement described by Skinner.

Answer 8

Fixed-ratio schedule

Question 9

Fill in the blank: __________ schedules provide reinforcement after a set number of responses.

Answer 9

Fixed-ratio

Question 10

What does the term ‘shaping’ refer to in Skinner’s theory?

Answer 10

Gradually training a behavior by reinforcing closer approximations to the desired behavior.

Question 11

Multiple choice: Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

Answer 11

Adding a chore for misbehavior

Question 12

True or False: Skinner’s theories are based on introspection and self-reports.

Answer 12

False

Question 13

What is the primary focus of Skinner’s research?

Answer 13

Observable behavior rather than internal mental states.

Question 14

Fill in the blank: Skinner’s approach to psychology is often associated with __________.

Answer 14

Behaviorism

Question 15

What did Skinner believe about free will?

Answer 15

He believed that free will is an illusion and that behavior is determined by environmental factors.

Question 16

Multiple choice: Which of the following is NOT a type of reinforcement?

Answer 16

Negative punishment

Question 17

What is a variable-interval schedule?

Answer 17

A reinforcement schedule that provides reinforcement after an unpredictable amount of time has passed.

Question 18

True or False: A fixed-interval schedule reinforces a behavior after a fixed period of time.

Answer 18

True

Question 19

Fill in the blank: __________ is the process of reinforcing successive approximations of a target behavior.

Answer 19

Shaping

Question 20

What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?

Answer 20

Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, while punishment decreases it.

Question 21

Multiple choice: Which concept emphasizes the use of consequences to modify behavior?

Answer 21

Operant conditioning

Question 22

True or False: Skinner conducted experiments primarily with humans.

Answer 22

False

Question 23

What did Skinner mean by ‘superstitious behavior’?

Answer 23

Behavior that is accidentally reinforced, leading to a false belief about the relationship between actions and outcomes.

Question 24

Fill in the blank: Skinner’s work laid the foundation for __________ psychology.

Answer 24

Applied behavior

Question 25

What is the primary method used by Skinner in his research?

Answer 25

Controlled experiments with animals in a laboratory setting.