Classical vs Operant Conditioning: Behavioral Psychology Test

Test your knowledge of Classical vs. Operant Conditioning. Explore key concepts, differences and applications in learning theories. Perfect for students & enthusiasts.

Questions (30)


  1. Which of the following is an example of operant conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivates at the sound of a bell
    • b) A child receives a sticker for completing homework
    • c) A loud noise causes a baby to cry
    • d) A cat hides after hearing thunder
    View Answer
    Correct A child receives a sticker for completing homework
  2. What does the term "extinction" refer to in classical conditioning?

    • a) The elimination of a conditioned response
    • b) The punishment of an unwanted behavior
    • c) The reinforcement of a desirable response
    • d) The pairing of two stimuli
    View Answer
    Correct The elimination of a conditioned response
  3. What did Ivan Pavlov originally study before discovering classical conditioning?

    • a) Animal intelligence
    • b) Digestive processes in dogs
    • c) Problem-solving in primates
    • d) Emotional responses in humans
    View Answer
    Correct Digestive processes in dogs
  4. Which psychologist is most closely associated with operant conditioning?

    • a) Ivan Pavlov
    • b) John Watson
    • c) B.F. Skinner
    • d) Albert Bandura
    View Answer
    Correct B.F. Skinner
  5. Which of the following is an example of a fixed-ratio schedule in operant conditioning?

    • a) Receiving a paycheck every two weeks
    • b) Getting a free coffee after purchasing five
    • c) Fishing until a catch occurs
    • d) Winning a jackpot on a slot machine
    View Answer
    Correct Getting a free coffee after purchasing five
  6. Which of the following best describes positive punishment?

    • a) Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
    • b) Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior
    • c) Adding a reward to strengthen a response
    • d) Removing a reward to weaken a behavior
    View Answer
    Correct Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior
  7. What is the key similarity between classical and operant conditioning?

    • a) Both involve reinforcement schedules
    • b) Both rely on voluntary behaviors
    • c) Both modify behavior through associations
    • d) Both require conscious effort by the subject
    View Answer
    Correct Both modify behavior through associations
  8. What is the primary outcome of spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

    • a) A previously extinguished response reappears
    • b) A new behavior is learned without reinforcement
    • c) The conditioned stimulus loses its effect
    • d) The unconditioned response becomes automatic
    View Answer
    Correct A previously extinguished response reappears
  9. Who is considered the founder of classical conditioning?

    • a) B.F. Skinner
    • b) Ivan Pavlov
    • c) John Watson
    • d) Edward Thorndike
    View Answer
    Correct Ivan Pavlov
  10. Which term refers to the process of distinguishing between similar stimuli in classical conditioning?

    • a) Generalization
    • b) Extinction
    • c) Spontaneous recovery
    • d) Discrimination
    View Answer
    Correct Discrimination
  11. Which type of reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?

    • a) Fixed-ratio
    • b) Fixed-interval
    • c) Variable-ratio
    • d) Continuous reinforcement
    View Answer
    Correct Variable-ratio
  12. What did Thorndike’s Law of Effect state?

    • a) Behaviors followed by rewards are more likely to occur
    • b) Classical conditioning is more effective than operant conditioning
    • c) Punishment is necessary for learning
    • d) All behaviors are instinctual
    View Answer
    Correct Behaviors followed by rewards are more likely to occur
  13. What is an example of a conditioned emotional response in classical conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivating at the sound of a bell
    • b) A person feeling nervous when hearing a siren
    • c) A child receiving a reward for doing homework
    • d) A cat hiding after hearing thunder
    View Answer
    Correct A person feeling nervous when hearing a siren
  14. What is the term for a stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning in classical conditioning?

    • a) Conditioned stimulus
    • b) Unconditioned stimulus
    • c) Neutral stimulus
    • d) Reinforcer
    View Answer
    Correct Unconditioned stimulus
  15. Which of the following is an example of generalization in classical conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivating to a sound similar to the bell used in conditioning
    • b) A rat pressing a lever for food
    • c) A child avoiding a specific food after a bad experience
    • d) A pigeon pecking a button for a reward
    View Answer
    Correct A dog salivating to a sound similar to the bell used in conditioning
  16. What is the purpose of extinction in classical conditioning?

    • a) To prevent a conditioned response from becoming too strong
    • b) To maintain the conditioned stimulus
    • c) To stop a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus
    • d) To increase the strength of the conditioned stimulus
    View Answer
    Correct To stop a conditioned response by repeatedly presenting the conditioned stimulus without the unconditioned stimulus
  17. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?

    • a) A child is given a cookie for doing their homework
    • b) A student loses points for late submission
    • c) A dog is scolded for barking loudly
    • d) A teenager is grounded for not completing chores
    View Answer
    Correct A child is given a cookie for doing their homework
  18. What does "secondary reinforcement" refer to in operant conditioning?

    • a) Reinforcers that satisfy biological needs
    • b) Reinforcers that are learned through association with primary reinforcers
    • c) Reinforcers that naturally elicit a response
    • d) Reinforcers that cause immediate behavior change
    View Answer
    Correct Reinforcers that are learned through association with primary reinforcers
  19. What is the role of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

    • a) To decrease the likelihood of a behavior
    • b) To increase the likelihood of a behavior
    • c) To eliminate unwanted behavior completely
    • d) To suppress undesirable behavior temporarily
    View Answer
    Correct To increase the likelihood of a behavior
  20. What term refers to a learned association between two stimuli in classical conditioning?

    • a) Extinction
    • b) Discrimination
    • c) Generalization
    • d) Conditioning
    View Answer
    Correct Conditioning
  21. What is an example of a fixed-interval reinforcement schedule?

    • a) Getting a bonus after every fifth sale
    • b) Receiving a paycheck every two weeks
    • c) A rat receiving food after pressing a lever five times
    • d) Winning a lottery every few weeks
    View Answer
    Correct Receiving a paycheck every two weeks
  22. Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

    • a) A teacher adds extra homework to discourage bad behavior
    • b) A child loses a privilege for not completing homework
    • c) A dog is scolded for jumping on the couch
    • d) A worker receives a pay cut for tardiness
    View Answer
    Correct A dog is scolded for jumping on the couch
  23. Which type of schedule leads to the most consistent behavior in operant conditioning?

    • a) Fixed-ratio
    • b) Fixed-interval
    • c) Variable-ratio
    • d) Continuous reinforcement
    View Answer
    Correct Variable-ratio
  24. What does the term "latent learning" refer to in classical and operant conditioning?

    • a) Learning that occurs without reinforcement
    • b) Learning that requires punishment
    • c) Learning that results from a specific reinforcement
    • d) Learning that takes place only after reinforcement
    View Answer
    Correct Learning that occurs without reinforcement
  25. What is an example of a primary reinforcer in operant conditioning?

    • a) Money
    • b) Food
    • c) A certificate
    • d) Praise
    View Answer
    Correct Food
  26. Which type of conditioning involves learning through the consequences of behavior?

    • a) Classical conditioning
    • b) Operant conditioning
    • c) Both classical and operant conditioning
    • d) Neither classical nor operant conditioning
    View Answer
    Correct Operant conditioning
  27. Which of the following is an example of a fixed-ratio reinforcement schedule?

    • a) A rat receives food after pressing a lever five times
    • b) A worker gets a paycheck at the end of the month
    • c) A child gets a cookie every time they complete their homework
    • d) A pigeon receives food after a random number of pecks
    View Answer
    Correct A rat receives food after pressing a lever five times
  28. Which behaviorist developed the theory of operant conditioning?

    • a) Ivan Pavlov
    • b) John Watson
    • c) B.F. Skinner
    • d) Albert Bandura
    View Answer
    Correct B.F. Skinner
  29. Which of the following describes a behavior that has been learned through operant conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivating to the sound of a bell
    • b) A person running when they see a lion
    • c) A rat pressing a lever to obtain food
    • d) A child crying when their parents leave
    View Answer
    Correct A rat pressing a lever to obtain food
  30. What is an example of spontaneous recovery in classical conditioning?

    • a) A dog salivating at the sight of a food bowl after the conditioned response had diminished
    • b) A rat learning to press a lever after training
    • c) A child avoiding a food that made them ill
    • d) A pigeon pecking a button for food
    View Answer
    Correct A dog salivating at the sight of a food bowl after the conditioned response had diminished

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