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.

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