Operant Conditioning

Operant conditioning is:

• a type of learning in which the frequency of responding depends on consequences.

• a way to describe certain thoughts or cognitions about operations, like problem-solving.

• conditioning that involves pairing unconditioned and conditioned stimuli.

• learning by observing the operations of other people.

The primary basis behind operant conditioning is Edward Thorndike’s:

• partial reinforcement.

• latent learning.

• law of effect.

• cognitive map.

Reinforcement is defined as:

• any consequence that decreases the likelihood a behavior will be repeated.

• any consequence that increases the likelihood a behavior will be repeated.

• any stimuli an organism thinks is favorable or pleasurable.

• verbal praise provided after an action.

The best example of secondary reinforcement is:

• money

• food

• water

• attention

Sophia stays out too late dancing, and her parents want to punish her so she won’t stay out too late next time. Which of the following actions would most likely be considered a punishment by operant conditioning theorists?

• praising Sophia every time she comes in before her curfew

• giving Sophia three dollars every time she comes in on time for the next month

• going out to dinner and discussing changes in family rules about curfew

• taking away Sophia’s car privileges for a month

Shaping involves:

• explaining a behavior carefully many times until a person gradually begins to understand it.

• only classical conditioning, not operant conditioning.

• positively reinforcing behaviors that move closer and closer to a target behavior.

• punishing an organism for each wrong response until the organism learns a desired response.

David’s parents give him $20 every time he gets an A in a class. When he moves away to college, his parents stop giving him this money for his grades, and he doesn’t get A’s any more. Which of the following concepts best explains why David stops getting A’s?

• extinction

• negative reinforcement

• shaping

• spontaneous recovery

If every correct response is reinforced, _____ is being used.

• continuous reinforcement

• operant conditioning

• partial reinforcement

• positive reinforcement

Jennifer edits manuscripts for a publisher and is paid $5 for every three pages she edits. Jennifer is reinforced on a ______ schedule.

• fixed-interval

• fixed-ratio

• variable-interval

• variable-ratio

Kelly initially loved to read. When she was in third grade, the local amusement park started a program where students could earn free passes to the park by reading. The program ended when Kelly reached the seventh grade. Once the reward was gone, Kelly significantly reduced her reading. This is an example of:

• partial reinforcement.

• cognitive map.

• spontaneous recovery.

• overjustification effect.