Behavioral Psychology Fundamentals: Quiz on Classical and Operant Conditioning

Questions (30)

1. What is an example of "positive reinforcement" in operant conditioning?

   • a) Ignoring an undesirable behavior
   • b) Removing an unpleasant stimulus after a desired behavior occurs
   • c) Giving a reward after a desired behavior occurs
   • d) Punishing a behavior to decrease its occurrence
   View Answer

   Correct Giving a reward after a desired behavior occurs

2. Which of the following is an example of "extinction" in classical conditioning?

   • a) A conditioned response decreases when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus
   • b) A new stimulus is introduced to provoke a new response
   • c) A conditioned response becomes stronger with more reinforcement
   • d) An unconditioned stimulus is replaced with a neutral stimulus
   View Answer

   Correct A conditioned response decreases when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus

3. What is "shaping" in operant conditioning?

   • a) Conditioning an animal to react to a conditioned stimulus
   • b) Reinforcing closer approximations of the desired behavior
   • c) Using punishment to decrease undesirable behavior
   • d) Reinforcing an undesirable behavior at random intervals
   View Answer

   Correct Reinforcing closer approximations of the desired behavior

4. What does the term "generalization" refer to in classical conditioning?

   • a) The process of associating a new stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus
   • b) The tendency for a conditioned response to occur with similar stimuli
   • c) The reinforcement of a desired behavior
   • d) The elimination of a conditioned response
   View Answer

   Correct The tendency for a conditioned response to occur with similar stimuli

5. Which of the following best describes "punishment" in operant conditioning?

   • a) Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior
   • b) Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior
   • c) Adding a stimulus to reinforce behavior
   • d) Removing a stimulus to reinforce behavior
   View Answer

   Correct Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior

6. Which type of reinforcement schedule produces a high and steady rate of response?

   • a) Fixed ratio
   • b) Variable ratio
   • c) Fixed interval
   • d) Variable interval
   View Answer

   Correct Variable ratio

7. Which of the following is an example of a "fixed-interval schedule" in operant conditioning?

   • a) Reinforcing a behavior after a set number of responses
   • b) Reinforcing a behavior at random intervals
   • c) Reinforcing a behavior after a random number of responses
   • d) Reinforcing a behavior after a fixed time period
   View Answer

   Correct Reinforcing a behavior after a fixed time period

8. What is an example of "vicarious reinforcement" in observational learning?

   • a) A child learns a behavior by watching others being rewarded for it
   • b) A child learns by receiving direct rewards for their own behavior
   • c) A child repeats a behavior because it is reinforced by others
   • d) A child learns through trial and error
   View Answer

   Correct A child learns a behavior by watching others being rewarded for it

9. What is the "Premack Principle"?

   • a) The idea that a more probable behavior can be used to reinforce a less probable behavior
   • b) The concept of reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
   • c) The principle that behavior is only learned through observation
   • d) The belief that punishment is the most effective way to change behavior
   View Answer

   Correct The idea that a more probable behavior can be used to reinforce a less probable behavior

10. What is "spontaneous recovery" in classical conditioning?

    • a) The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction
    • b) The process of associating a new stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
    • c) The reinforcement of an extinguished behavior
    • d) The generalization of a conditioned response to new stimuli
    View Answer

    Correct The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction

11. What does "observational learning" involve in behavioral psychology?

    • a) Learning through direct reinforcement of behavior
    • b) Learning by watching and imitating the behavior of others
    • c) Learning by associating stimuli with responses
    • d) Learning by practicing behavior repeatedly
    View Answer

    Correct Learning by watching and imitating the behavior of others

12. Which of the following is a key component of operant conditioning?

    • a) Reflexive responses to stimuli
    • b) The use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior
    • c) Pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
    • d) Conditioned responses to environmental cues
    View Answer

    Correct The use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior

13. Which term describes when an organism stops responding to a stimulus that is no longer paired with reinforcement?

    • a) Generalization
    • b) Extinction
    • c) Spontaneous recovery
    • d) Shaping
    View Answer

    Correct Extinction

14. Who is the psychologist associated with the concept of "behaviorism" in psychology?

    • a) Sigmund Freud
    • b) Carl Rogers
    • c) B.F. Skinner
    • d) Abraham Maslow
    View Answer

    Correct B.F. Skinner

15. Which of the following is a characteristic of operant conditioning?

    • a) Behavior is controlled by the pairing of stimuli
    • b) Behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment
    • c) Behavior occurs automatically in response to stimuli
    • d) Behavior is the result of innate instincts
    View Answer

    Correct Behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment

16. Who is most closely associated with the theory of operant conditioning?

    • a) Ivan Pavlov
    • b) Albert Bandura
    • c) B.F. Skinner
    • d) John B. Watson
    View Answer

    Correct B.F. Skinner

17. What is "behavior modification"?

    • a) The process of using conditioning to change maladaptive behaviors
    • b) The process of reinforcing desired behavior only
    • c) The process of using observation to learn new behaviors
    • d) The process of removing maladaptive responses
    View Answer

    Correct The process of using conditioning to change maladaptive behaviors

18. What is the role of "reinforcement" in operant conditioning?

    • a) To encourage the repetition of a behavior
    • b) To stop the occurrence of an undesirable behavior
    • c) To eliminate a conditioned response
    • d) To introduce new stimuli to provoke a response
    View Answer

    Correct To encourage the repetition of a behavior

19. In classical conditioning, the "conditioned stimulus" is:

    • a) The stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response
    • b) The learned stimulus that evokes a conditioned response
    • c) The response that occurs naturally in reaction to an unconditioned stimulus
    • d) The behavior that is reinforced through rewards
    View Answer

    Correct The learned stimulus that evokes a conditioned response

20. In Pavlov’s experiment, what was the unconditioned stimulus?

    • a) The sound of the bell
    • b) The food presented to the dogs
    • c) The salivation response
    • d) The bell ringing after conditioning
    View Answer

    Correct The food presented to the dogs

21. In Skinner's operant conditioning experiments, what was used to reinforce the behavior of rats?

    • a) A loud sound
    • b) A food pellet
    • c) A shock to the skin
    • d) A conditioned response
    View Answer

    Correct A food pellet

22. In Pavlov's experiment, what was the conditioned response?

    • a) The dog's salivation in response to the food
    • b) The dog’s salivation in response to the bell sound
    • c) The dog’s response to the neutral stimulus
    • d) The dog’s fear of the bell sound
    View Answer

    Correct The dog’s salivation in response to the bell sound

23. In operant conditioning, what does "fixed ratio" refer to?

    • a) Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses
    • b) Reinforcement is given after a fixed time period
    • c) Reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses
    • d) Reinforcement is provided after random intervals
    View Answer

    Correct Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses

24. What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?

    • a) Classical conditioning involves reflexive behaviors, while operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors
    • b) Classical conditioning requires rewards, while operant conditioning requires punishments
    • c) Classical conditioning involves imitation of behavior, while operant conditioning does not
    • d) Classical conditioning does not involve reinforcement
    View Answer

    Correct Classical conditioning involves reflexive behaviors, while operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors

25. What is the main characteristic of "negative punishment" in operant conditioning?

    • a) Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
    • b) Adding a negative stimulus to reduce a behavior
    • c) Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
    • d) Adding a reward to increase a behavior
    View Answer

    Correct Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior

26. What is the concept of "latent learning"?

    • a) Learning through continuous and immediate feedback
    • b) Learning that occurs only through direct reinforcement
    • c) Learning through observation without reinforcement
    • d) Learning that occurs but is not immediately expressed
    View Answer

    Correct Learning that occurs but is not immediately expressed

27. What is "instinctive drift" in operant conditioning?

    • a) The tendency for learned behavior to revert to innate behavior patterns
    • b) The process of reinforcing complex behaviors gradually
    • c) The ability to learn new behaviors without reinforcement
    • d) The phenomenon where animals exhibit social learning
    View Answer

    Correct The tendency for learned behavior to revert to innate behavior patterns

28. What does "generalization" mean in classical conditioning?

    • a) The extinction of a conditioned response due to lack of reinforcement
    • b) The tendency to become conditioned to a neutral stimulus
    • c) The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli
    • d) The tendency for a conditioned response to be triggered by stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus
    View Answer

    Correct The tendency for a conditioned response to be triggered by stimuli similar to the conditioned stimulus

29. Which of the following best describes "continuous reinforcement"?

    • a) Reinforcing a behavior randomly
    • b) Reinforcing a behavior only at fixed intervals
    • c) Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
    • d) Reinforcing behavior only when the organism is punished
    View Answer

    Correct Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs

30. What is "token economy" in operant conditioning?

    • a) A system where tokens are given as reinforcement for desired behavior
    • b) A process of modifying behavior using electric shocks
    • c) A method of observing behavior without reinforcement
    • d) A technique for pairing stimuli to form associations
    View Answer

    Correct A system where tokens are given as reinforcement for desired behavior