B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning: Exam on Behavioral Theories MCQs
Test your knowledge of B.F. Skinner's Operant Conditioning theory with our Behavioral Theories exam. Explore reinforcement, punishment and key concepts in behavior modification.
Questions (30)
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What is operant conditioning primarily focused on?
- a) The association between two stimuli
- b) The consequences of behavior on future actions
- c) The natural reflexes triggered by a specific stimulus
- d) The innate behaviors displayed by an organism
View Answer
Correct The consequences of behavior on future actions -
Who is considered the pioneer of operant conditioning?
- a) Ivan Pavlov
- b) John B. Watson
- c) B.F. Skinner
- d) Edward Thorndike
View Answer
Correct B.F. Skinner -
What is the purpose of reinforcement in operant conditioning?
- a) To reduce the occurrence of a behavior
- b) To increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again
- c) To neutralize the effects of punishment
- d) To eliminate conditioned responses
View Answer
Correct To increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again -
Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?
- a) Taking away a toy to stop bad behavior
- b) Giving a child a cookie for completing their homework
- c) Scolding a student for being late
- d) Ignoring a child's tantrum
View Answer
Correct Giving a child a cookie for completing their homework -
What is negative reinforcement?
- a) Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior
- b) Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior
- c) Punishing a behavior to reduce its frequency
- d) Ignoring a behavior to extinguish it
View Answer
Correct Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior -
Which of these is an example of a primary reinforcer?
- a) Money
- b) Praise
- c) Food
- d) A certificate
View Answer
Correct Food -
What distinguishes a primary reinforcer from a secondary reinforcer?
- a) Primary reinforcers have intrinsic value, while secondary reinforcers derive value through association
- b) Primary reinforcers are conditioned, while secondary reinforcers are natural
- c) Primary reinforcers are punishments, while secondary reinforcers are rewards
- d) Secondary reinforcers are used for negative reinforcement only
View Answer
Correct Primary reinforcers have intrinsic value, while secondary reinforcers derive value through association -
Which schedule of reinforcement is most resistant to extinction?
- a) Fixed interval
- b) Fixed ratio
- c) Variable interval
- d) Variable ratio
View Answer
Correct Variable ratio -
What is a fixed ratio schedule?
- a) Reinforcement occurs after a fixed time period
- b) Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses
- c) Reinforcement occurs randomly after responses
- d) Reinforcement is based on the intensity of the response
View Answer
Correct Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses -
In operant conditioning, what is shaping?
- a) Gradually reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior
- b) Punishing undesirable behaviors to shape better habits
- c) Pairing a neutral stimulus with a response
- d) Reinforcing random behaviors in an organism
View Answer
Correct Gradually reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior -
What is the primary goal of punishment in operant conditioning?
- a) To reinforce conditioned responses
- b) To increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring
- c) To decrease the likelihood of a behavior recurring
- d) To establish a new behavior
View Answer
Correct To decrease the likelihood of a behavior recurring -
What does "extinction" refer to in operant conditioning?
- a) The gradual reduction of a conditioned response due to lack of reinforcement
- b) The complete removal of reinforcement schedules
- c) The pairing of a neutral stimulus with a conditioned stimulus
- d) The immediate disappearance of a behavior
View Answer
Correct The gradual reduction of a conditioned response due to lack of reinforcement -
What is a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?
- a) A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement
- b) A stimulus that triggers reflexive responses
- c) A stimulus that extinguishes a conditioned behavior
- d) A stimulus that is unrelated to reinforcement
View Answer
Correct A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement -
Which is an example of a variable interval schedule?
- a) Reinforcing a behavior every 10 minutes
- b) Reinforcing a behavior at unpredictable time intervals
- c) Reinforcing a behavior every third response
- d) Reinforcing a behavior only after a set period
View Answer
Correct Reinforcing a behavior at unpredictable time intervals -
What is the Skinner Box?
- a) A device used to study classical conditioning
- b) An apparatus designed to study operant conditioning in animals
- c) A psychological theory about reinforcement schedules
- d) A method for shaping human behavior
View Answer
Correct An apparatus designed to study operant conditioning in animals -
In operant conditioning, what is a token economy?
- a) A system where tokens are used as secondary reinforcers to exchange for rewards
- b) A method of pairing primary reinforcers with conditioned responses
- c) A type of punishment used to modify behavior
- d) A financial system based on reinforcement schedules
View Answer
Correct A system where tokens are used as secondary reinforcers to exchange for rewards -
Which of the following is NOT a type of reinforcement schedule?
- a) Continuous
- b) Fixed ratio
- c) Randomized
- d) Variable interval
View Answer
Correct Randomized -
What does the term "superstitious behavior" mean in operant conditioning?
- a) Behavior that occurs because it was accidentally reinforced
- b) Behavior that is deliberately reinforced
- c) Behavior shaped through punishment
- d) Behavior unrelated to reinforcement
View Answer
Correct Behavior that occurs because it was accidentally reinforced -
What is the law of effect in operant conditioning?
- a) All behaviors have an equal chance of being reinforced
- b) Behaviors followed by punishment are likely to increase
- c) Behaviors are solely determined by external stimuli
- d) Behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated
View Answer
Correct Behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated -
What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?
- a) Reinforcement increases behavior, while punishment decreases behavior
- b) Reinforcement decreases behavior, while punishment increases behavior
- c) Reinforcement is used in classical conditioning and punishment is used in operant conditioning
- d) Both are used to extinguish unwanted behaviors
View Answer
Correct Reinforcement increases behavior, while punishment decreases behavior -
Which behavior is an example of operant conditioning?
- a) A dog salivating at the sound of a bell
- b) A student studying harder after receiving praise for good grades
- c) A child crying when they hear thunder
- d) A person feeling anxious when seeing a hospital
View Answer
Correct A student studying harder after receiving praise for good grades -
What is a negative punishment?
- a) Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
- b) Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
- c) Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior
- d) Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior
View Answer
Correct Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior -
What is the purpose of a reinforcement schedule?
- a) To ensure consistent punishment
- b) To determine how often a behavior will be reinforced
- c) To establish new behaviors without extinction
- d) To eliminate unwanted behaviors
View Answer
Correct To determine how often a behavior will be reinforced -
What is the primary feature of a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement?
- a) Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses
- b) Reinforcement is provided at unpredictable intervals of time
- c) Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses
- d) Reinforcement is given after every response
View Answer
Correct Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses -
Which of the following best describes a secondary reinforcer?
- a) A reinforcer that satisfies a basic biological need
- b) A reinforcer that gains value through association with a primary reinforcer
- c) A reinforcer that is used only in variable schedules
- d) A reinforcer that eliminates undesirable behaviors
View Answer
Correct A reinforcer that gains value through association with a primary reinforcer -
Which of the following is an example of shaping in operant conditioning?
- a) A teacher rewards a student for each step toward solving a math problem
- b) A dog salivates when it hears the sound of a bell
- c) A child avoids touching a hot stove after being burned once
- d) A person feels anxious when seeing a dentist's chair
View Answer
Correct A teacher rewards a student for each step toward solving a math problem -
What is the primary purpose of a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?
- a) To trigger a natural reflex
- b) To signal the availability of reinforcement for a specific behavior
- c) To neutralize the effects of punishment
- d) To create conditioned responses
View Answer
Correct To signal the availability of reinforcement for a specific behavior -
What does "extinction burst" refer to in operant conditioning?
- a) The complete disappearance of a behavior
- b) The reduction of behavior due to punishment
- c) The sudden reinforcement of a previously extinguished behavior
- d) A temporary increase in the frequency of a behavior during the extinction process
View Answer
Correct A temporary increase in the frequency of a behavior during the extinction process -
What is the main advantage of continuous reinforcement?
- a) It is highly resistant to extinction
- b) It quickly establishes new behaviors
- c) It works best for complex behaviors
- d) It prevents superstitious behavior
View Answer
Correct It quickly establishes new behaviors -
What does a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement involve?
- a) Reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses
- b) Reinforcement is provided after a specific amount of time has passed
- c) Reinforcement occurs randomly at unpredictable intervals
- d) Reinforcement is given immediately after every response
View Answer
Correct Reinforcement is provided after a specific amount of time has passed
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