What is operant conditioning primarily focused on?

The consequences of behavior on future actions

What is the purpose of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

To increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again

Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?

Giving a child a cookie for completing their homework

What is negative reinforcement?

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior

What distinguishes a primary reinforcer from a secondary reinforcer?

Primary reinforcers have intrinsic value, while secondary reinforcers derive value through association

What is a fixed ratio schedule?

Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses

In operant conditioning, what is shaping?

Gradually reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior

B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning: Exam on Behavioral Theories MCQs

Questions: 30

Questions

1. 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
2. Who is considered the pioneer of operant conditioning?
- a) Ivan Pavlov
- b) John B. Watson
- c) B.F. Skinner
- d) Edward Thorndike
3. 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
4. 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
5. 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
6. Which of these is an example of a primary reinforcer?
- a) Money
- b) Praise
- c) Food
- d) A certificate
7. 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
8. Which schedule of reinforcement is most resistant to extinction?
- a) Fixed interval
- b) Fixed ratio
- c) Variable interval
- d) Variable ratio
9. 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
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
15. 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
16. 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
17. Which of the following is NOT a type of reinforcement schedule?
- a) Continuous
- b) Fixed ratio
- c) Randomized
- d) Variable interval
18. 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
19. 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
20. 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
21. 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
22. 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
23. 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
24. 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
25. 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
26. 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
27. 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
28. 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
29. 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
30. 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

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Take this exam and evaluate your understanding of the subject.

B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning: Exam on Behavioral Theories MCQs

1. What is operant conditioning primarily focused on?

2. Who is considered the pioneer of operant conditioning?

3. What is the purpose of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

4. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?

5. What is negative reinforcement?

6. Which of these is an example of a primary reinforcer?

7. What distinguishes a primary reinforcer from a secondary reinforcer?

8. Which schedule of reinforcement is most resistant to extinction?

9. What is a fixed ratio schedule?

10. In operant conditioning, what is shaping?

11. What is the primary goal of punishment in operant conditioning?

12. What does "extinction" refer to in operant conditioning?

13. What is a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?

14. Which is an example of a variable interval schedule?

15. What is the Skinner Box?

16. In operant conditioning, what is a token economy?

17. Which of the following is NOT a type of reinforcement schedule?

18. What does the term "superstitious behavior" mean in operant conditioning?

19. What is the law of effect in operant conditioning?

20. What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?

21. Which behavior is an example of operant conditioning?

22. What is a negative punishment?

23. What is the purpose of a reinforcement schedule?

24. What is the primary feature of a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement?

25. Which of the following best describes a secondary reinforcer?

26. Which of the following is an example of shaping in operant conditioning?

27. What is the primary purpose of a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?

28. What does "extinction burst" refer to in operant conditioning?

29. What is the main advantage of continuous reinforcement?

30. What does a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement involve?

Related Exams You May Like

Explore

IT Fundamentals

Professional Development

Psychology Insights