Behavioral Psychology Fundamentals: Quiz on Classical and Operant Conditioning

Test your understanding of core behaviorism theories with our Behavioral Psychology MCQ exam. Learn about key principles, influential psychologists and real-world applications.

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1. What is an example of "positive reinforcement" in operant conditioning?
  • Ignoring an undesirable behavior
  • Removing an unpleasant stimulus after a desired behavior occurs
  • Giving a reward after a desired behavior occurs
  • Punishing a behavior to decrease its occurrence
2. Which of the following is an example of "extinction" in classical conditioning?
  • A conditioned response decreases when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus
  • A new stimulus is introduced to provoke a new response
  • A conditioned response becomes stronger with more reinforcement
  • An unconditioned stimulus is replaced with a neutral stimulus
3. What is "shaping" in operant conditioning?
  • Conditioning an animal to react to a conditioned stimulus
  • Reinforcing closer approximations of the desired behavior
  • Using punishment to decrease undesirable behavior
  • Reinforcing an undesirable behavior at random intervals
4. What does the term "generalization" refer to in classical conditioning?
  • The process of associating a new stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus
  • The tendency for a conditioned response to occur with similar stimuli
  • The reinforcement of a desired behavior
  • The elimination of a conditioned response
5. Which of the following best describes "punishment" in operant conditioning?
  • Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior
  • Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior
  • Adding a stimulus to reinforce behavior
  • Removing a stimulus to reinforce behavior
6. Which type of reinforcement schedule produces a high and steady rate of response?
  • Fixed ratio
  • Variable ratio
  • Fixed interval
  • Variable interval
7. Which of the following is an example of a "fixed-interval schedule" in operant conditioning?
  • Reinforcing a behavior after a set number of responses
  • Reinforcing a behavior at random intervals
  • Reinforcing a behavior after a random number of responses
  • Reinforcing a behavior after a fixed time period
8. What is an example of "vicarious reinforcement" in observational learning?
  • A child learns a behavior by watching others being rewarded for it
  • A child learns by receiving direct rewards for their own behavior
  • A child repeats a behavior because it is reinforced by others
  • A child learns through trial and error
9. What is the "Premack Principle"?
  • The idea that a more probable behavior can be used to reinforce a less probable behavior
  • The concept of reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
  • The principle that behavior is only learned through observation
  • The belief that punishment is the most effective way to change behavior
10. What is "spontaneous recovery" in classical conditioning?
  • The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction
  • The process of associating a new stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
  • The reinforcement of an extinguished behavior
  • The generalization of a conditioned response to new stimuli
11. What does "observational learning" involve in behavioral psychology?
  • Learning through direct reinforcement of behavior
  • Learning by watching and imitating the behavior of others
  • Learning by associating stimuli with responses
  • Learning by practicing behavior repeatedly
12. Which of the following is a key component of operant conditioning?
  • Reflexive responses to stimuli
  • The use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior
  • Pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
  • Conditioned responses to environmental cues
13. Which term describes when an organism stops responding to a stimulus that is no longer paired with reinforcement?
  • Generalization
  • Extinction
  • Spontaneous recovery
  • Shaping
14. Who is the psychologist associated with the concept of "behaviorism" in psychology?
  • Sigmund Freud
  • Carl Rogers
  • B.F. Skinner
  • Abraham Maslow
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of operant conditioning?
  • Behavior is controlled by the pairing of stimuli
  • Behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment
  • Behavior occurs automatically in response to stimuli
  • Behavior is the result of innate instincts
16. Who is most closely associated with the theory of operant conditioning?
  • Ivan Pavlov
  • Albert Bandura
  • B.F. Skinner
  • John B. Watson
17. What is "behavior modification"?
  • The process of using conditioning to change maladaptive behaviors
  • The process of reinforcing desired behavior only
  • The process of using observation to learn new behaviors
  • The process of removing maladaptive responses
18. What is the role of "reinforcement" in operant conditioning?
  • To encourage the repetition of a behavior
  • To stop the occurrence of an undesirable behavior
  • To eliminate a conditioned response
  • To introduce new stimuli to provoke a response
19. In classical conditioning, the "conditioned stimulus" is:
  • The stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response
  • The learned stimulus that evokes a conditioned response
  • The response that occurs naturally in reaction to an unconditioned stimulus
  • The behavior that is reinforced through rewards
20. In Pavlov’s experiment, what was the unconditioned stimulus?
  • The sound of the bell
  • The food presented to the dogs
  • The salivation response
  • The bell ringing after conditioning
21. In Skinner's operant conditioning experiments, what was used to reinforce the behavior of rats?
  • A loud sound
  • A food pellet
  • A shock to the skin
  • A conditioned response
22. In Pavlov's experiment, what was the conditioned response?
  • The dog's salivation in response to the food
  • The dog’s salivation in response to the bell sound
  • The dog’s response to the neutral stimulus
  • The dog’s fear of the bell sound
23. In operant conditioning, what does "fixed ratio" refer to?
  • Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses
  • Reinforcement is given after a fixed time period
  • Reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses
  • Reinforcement is provided after random intervals
24. What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?
  • Classical conditioning involves reflexive behaviors, while operant conditioning involves voluntary behaviors
  • Classical conditioning requires rewards, while operant conditioning requires punishments
  • Classical conditioning involves imitation of behavior, while operant conditioning does not
  • Classical conditioning does not involve reinforcement
25. What is the main characteristic of "negative punishment" in operant conditioning?
  • Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
  • Adding a negative stimulus to reduce a behavior
  • Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior
  • Adding a reward to increase a behavior
26. What is the concept of "latent learning"?
  • Learning through continuous and immediate feedback
  • Learning that occurs only through direct reinforcement
  • Learning through observation without reinforcement
  • Learning that occurs but is not immediately expressed
27. What is "instinctive drift" in operant conditioning?
  • The tendency for learned behavior to revert to innate behavior patterns
  • The process of reinforcing complex behaviors gradually
  • The ability to learn new behaviors without reinforcement
  • The phenomenon where animals exhibit social learning
28. What does "generalization" mean in classical conditioning?
  • The extinction of a conditioned response due to lack of reinforcement
  • The tendency to become conditioned to a neutral stimulus
  • The ability to differentiate between similar stimuli
  • 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"?
  • Reinforcing a behavior randomly
  • Reinforcing a behavior only at fixed intervals
  • Reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
  • Reinforcing behavior only when the organism is punished
30. What is "token economy" in operant conditioning?
  • A system where tokens are given as reinforcement for desired behavior
  • A process of modifying behavior using electric shocks
  • A method of observing behavior without reinforcement
  • A technique for pairing stimuli to form associations