Question 1

Which of the following best describes operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Learning associations between one's own behavior and its consequences.

Question 2

According to Thorndike's Law of Effect, which statement is most accurate?

Accepted Answer

Behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely.

Question 3

A rat presses a lever and receives food. Over time, the rat presses the lever more frequently. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Positive reinforcement

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of negative reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

Taking painkillers to end pain.

Question 5

A teacher gives students a gold star for every five books they read. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

Accepted Answer

Fixed ratio

Question 6

Which reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio

Question 7

A child is sent to their room (removal of a desired stimulus) after misbehaving. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negative punishment

Question 8

Which of the following is a drawback of using physical punishment to change behavior?

Accepted Answer

All of the above.

Question 9

A slot machine pays out after an unpredictable number of lever pulls. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

Accepted Answer

Variable ratio

Question 10

Which of the following best illustrates shaping in operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Rewarding a dog for sitting, then only for lying down, then only for rolling over.

Question 11

Which of the following is a primary reinforcer?

Accepted Answer

Food

Question 12

A student studies hard to avoid getting a bad grade. This is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Negative reinforcement

Question 13

Which of the following best describes latent learning?

Accepted Answer

Learning that occurs but is not apparent until there is an incentive to demonstrate it.

Question 14

Which of the following is an example of intrinsic motivation?

Accepted Answer

Playing the guitar for personal enjoyment.

Question 15

According to the study materials, which of the following is a biological constraint on operant conditioning?

Accepted Answer

Species are predisposed to learn associations that are naturally adaptive.

Question 16

Which of the following best describes observational learning?

Accepted Answer

Learning by observing and imitating others' behavior.

Question 17

In Bandura's Bobo Doll experiment, children who observed adults behaving aggressively toward the doll were more likely to:

Accepted Answer

Behave aggressively toward the doll themselves.

Question 18

Which of the following is a potential effect of exposure to media violence, according to the study materials?

Accepted Answer

Increased aggressive cognitions and behaviors.

Question 19

A person receives a paycheck every two weeks, regardless of performance. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

Accepted Answer

Fixed interval

Question 20

Which formula best represents the relationship between reinforcement and response rate in a variable ratio schedule?

Accepted Answer

$R \propto$ high and steady, with $VR$ = variable number of responses per reinforcement

Operant Conditioning and Biological Influences on Learning

Study Guide - Practice Questions