Question 1

Which of the following best describes the law of parsimony in scientific explanation?

Accepted Answer

It states that the simplest explanation that accounts for all the facts should be preferred.

Question 2

In Pavlovian conditioning, what is the main difference between trace conditioning and delayed conditioning?

Accepted Answer

In trace conditioning, the CS is presented and terminated before the US is presented, while in delayed conditioning, the CS is presented and remains on until the US is presented.

Question 3

A researcher pairs a tone (CS) with a puff of air (US) to the eye, causing a blink (UR). After several pairings, the tone alone elicits an eye blink (CR). If the tone is repeatedly presented without the puff of air, what process is occurring?

Accepted Answer

Extinction

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of a fixed-ratio (FR) schedule of reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A rat receives a food pellet every 10th lever press.

Question 5

According to the Rescorla-Wagner model, the change in associative strength ($$\Delta V) on a $$given trial is given by which of the following equations?

Accepted Answer

$$\Delta V = \alpha\beta(\lambda - V)$$

Question 6

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of blocking in Pavlovian conditioning?

Accepted Answer

A dog is conditioned to salivate to a bell. Later, a light is presented together with the bell and followed by food, but the dog does not salivate to the light alone.

Question 7

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A person fastens their seatbelt to stop the car from beeping.

Question 8

In the context of operant conditioning, what is the main difference between escape and avoidance learning?

Accepted Answer

Escape learning involves terminating an ongoing aversive stimulus, while avoidance learning involves preventing the aversive stimulus from occurring.

Question 9

Which of the following best describes the phenomenon of spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

Accepted Answer

The reappearance of a conditioned response after extinction and a rest period.

Question 10

A child learns to fear all dogs after being bitten by a single dog. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Stimulus generalization

Question 11

Which of the following is a key criticism of using case studies as a source of evidence in psychology?

Accepted Answer

They are subject to observer bias and lack generalizability.

Question 12

In a study, a rat receives a mild shock (US) after a tone (CS). After several pairings, the rat freezes when it hears the tone. If the tone is presented without the shock, the freezing response gradually diminishes. What is the term for the initial increase in freezing that sometimes occurs when extinction begins?

Accepted Answer

Extinction burst

Question 13

Which of the following best describes a generalized reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

A reinforcer that has been associated with multiple primary reinforcers and is effective in a wide range of situations.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of a variable-interval (VI) schedule of reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A pigeon receives food after an average of 30 seconds, but the exact time varies from trial to trial.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about the partial reinforcement effect (PRE) is correct?

Accepted Answer

Behaviours reinforced on a partial schedule are more resistant to extinction than those reinforced on a continuous schedule.

Question 16

Which of the following best illustrates the concept of vicarious reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

A child observes another child being praised for sharing and then is more likely to share themselves.

Question 17

In the context of memory, what is the retention interval?

Accepted Answer

The time between learning and the attempt to retrieve the information.

Question 18

Which of the following is an example of proactive interference?

Accepted Answer

Your old locker combination interferes with your ability to remember your new combination.

Question 19

Which of the following best describes the concept of stimulus control?

Accepted Answer

A behaviour occurs only in the presence of a specific stimulus.

Comprehensive Study Guidance for College-Level Psychology: Learning, Conditioning, and Behaviour

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