Behavioral and Social Learning Theories

Ms. Archer tells her students that they have to finish their algebra problems before they can play the game "Prime Climb." Which principle is she using to get her students to finish their work?

• The Premack Principle

• operant conditioning

• extinction

• generalization

Answer explanation

The Premack Principle, which according to Slavin (2021) “promote[s] less-desired activities by linking them to more-desired activities” (p. 133). Our parents might have said, “Finish your dinner before you can have dessert.” The same principle applies here: students must get work done before a rewarding activity can be enjoyed.

Label the unconditioned stimulus and the neutral stimulus (you can write "us" and "ns").

Answer explanation

Slavin (2020) points out that because meat produces a response automatically, it is the unconditioned stimulus; similarly, because the bell initially has no effect on the response of salivation, it is the neutral stimulus (p. 129).

Ms. Archer always erases the board 30 seconds before she dismisses her class. After a month of class, the students start packing up their things when she begins erasing the board. What kind of stimulus is erasing the board now?

Answer explanation

Slavin (2021) states that “Pavlov’s experiments showed that if a previously neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus, the neutral stimulus becomes a conditioned stimulus and gains the power to prompt a response similar to that produced by the unconditioned stimulus” (p. 129). Although erasing the board did not elicit a response at first, but dismissing the class did, now that students associate erasing the board with dismissal, they show the same behavior from seeing Ms. Archer erase the board as they would if they had been dismissed.

A student observes a classmate pick a prize out of the box each week for completing all his assignments. Then, that student starts to complete more assignments. What kind of learning occurred?

• shaping

• observational

• generalization

• conditioned

Name one thing Ms. Archer could have done differently to manage classroom behavior appropriately.

Ms. Archer hands each student a checklist of the tasks to be completed for the final project. Which learning model is she using?

• Skinner's operant conditioning

• Pavlov's classical conditioning

• Meichenbaum's self-regulated learning

• Bandura's observational learning

Answer explanation

Slavin (2021) states that “the idea behind [a checklist] is that breaking down a complex task into smaller pieces encourages students to feel that they are making progress toward their larger goal” (p. 150).

Slavin (2021) states that "students who feel confident in their ability to use metacognitive and self-motivational behaviors are likely to be high in

Answer explanation

According to Slavin, self-efficacy is "the belief that one's own efforts determine one's success or failure" (p. 150).

Which of the following does not encourage self-regulated learning?

• A self-grading rubric for students

• A checklist for a large project

• A teacher checklist to make sure all students are making progress

• A log for study time at home

If a student in Ms. Archer's class gets 100% on a quiz, he will not have to do any more work on the topic tested. What kind of reinforcer is that?

Answer explanation

Slavin (2021) states that "reinforcers that are escapes from unpleasant situations are called negative reinforcers" (p. 133).

Ms. Archer holds a GED qualifying test once a month. The students seem to work more the week before that test. Their behavior is being reinforced through which schedule of reinforcement?

Answer explanation

Fixed-interval schedule; Slavin (2021) points out that this pattern may encourage students to cram instead of “putting forth their best effort all the time” (p. 141).