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Chapter 5: Reinforcement
Multiple Choice
3. In one of Thorndike's puzzle boxes, a door would fall open when a cat stepped on a treadle, thus
allowing the cat to reach food outside the box. Eventually the cat would step on the treadle as soon as it
was put into the box. Thorndike concluded that ________.
a. the reasoning ability of cats is quite remarkable
b. treadle stepping increased because it had a "satisfying effect"
c. the treadle is a CS for stepping
d. learning meant connecting the treadle with freedom and food
Ans: B Ref: 128
4. Thorndike plotted the results of his puzzle box experiments as graphs. The resulting curves show a
_____ with succeeding trials.
TEST BANK CHAPTER 5 32
a. decrease in time
b. decrease in errors
c. change in topography
d. increase in the rate of behavior
Ans: A Ref: 128
6. Thorndike made important contributions to all of the following fields except _____.
a. educational psychology
b. animal learning
c. social psychology
d. psychological testing
Ans: C Ref: 130
11. Mary’s grandmother, Pearl, is from the Old Country. Although she knows some English, she
continues to speak her native tongue. Pearl can't go anywhere without a member of the family
because she can't communicate with people about prices, directions, bus routes, etc. Pearl's resistance
TEST BANK CHAPTER 5 33
to learning English is most likely the result of ______.
a. a lack of intelligence
b. age. Studies show that after the age of 60 learning a second language is nearly impossible.
c. the length of time she has spent speaking her native language
d. the benefits she receives for not speaking English
Ans: D Ref: inferred
12. Mary decides to try to modify Pearl's behavior (see above item). She and the rest of the family refuse
to respond to any comment or request by Pearl that they know she is capable of expressing in
English. For example, if during dinner she says, "Pass the potatoes" in English, she gets potatoes; if
she says it in her native language she gets ignored. The procedure being used to change Pearl's
behavior is ______.
a. positive reinforcement
b. negative reinforcement
c. adventitious reinforcement
d. punishment
Ans: A Ref: 133
13. Charles Catania identified three characteristics that define reinforcement. These include all of the
following except _______.
a. a behavior must have a consequence
b. the consequence of the behavior must be positive
c. a behavior must increase in strength
d. the increase in strength must be the result of the behavior’s consequence
Ans: B Ref: 133
14. The one thing that all reinforcers have in common is that they _______.
a. strengthen behavior
b. are positive
c. feel good
d. provide feedback
Ans: A Ref: 133
15. The number of operant procedures indicated in the contingency square is ______.
a. two
b. four
c. six
d. nine
Ans: B Ref: 133
18. Alan Neuringer demonstrated that with reinforcement, _____ could learn to behave randomly.
a. preschoolers
b. cats
c. rats
d. pigeons
Ans: D Ref: 135f
22. All of the following are recognized kinds of reinforcers except ______.
a. primary
b.contrived
c. secondary
d. classical
Ans: D Ref: 138-141
23. Donald Zimmerman found that a buzzer became a positive reinforcer after it was repeatedly paired
with ______.
a. food
b. water
c. escape from shock
d. morphine
Ans: B Ref: 139
24.The level of deprivation is less important when the reinforcer used is a(n) _________reinforcer.
a. primary
TEST BANK CHAPTER 5 35
b. secondary
c. unexpected
d. intrinsic
Ans: B Ref: 139
27. The Watson and Rayner experiment with Little Albert may have involved operant as well as
Pavlovian learning because the loud noise ______.
a. occurred as Albert reached for the rat
b. occurred while Albert was eating
c. did not bother Albert initially
d. was aversive
Ans: A Ref: 142
29. Schlinger and Blakely found that the reinforcing power of a delayed reinforcer could be increased by
________.
a. increasing the size of the reinforcer
b. preceding the reinforcer with a stimulus
c. providing a different kind of reinforcer
d. following the reinforcer with a stimulus
Ans: B Ref: 145
31. ________ demonstrated that electrical stimulation of the brain could be reinforcing.
TEST BANK CHAPTER 5 36
a. Olds and Milner
b. Skinner
c. Barnes and Noble
d. Hull
Ans: A Ref: 150
35. Sylvia believes that the reinforcement properties of an event depend on the extent to which it provides
access to high probability behavior. Sylvia is most likely an advocate of _______ theory.
a. drive-reduction
b. relative value
c. response deprivation
d. random guess
38. According to ___________ theory, schoolchildren are eager to go to recess because they have been
deprived of the opportunity to exercise.
a. drive-reduction
b. relative value
c. response deprivation
d. stimulus substitution
Ans: C Ref: 157
39. The distinctive characteristic of the Sidman avoidance procedure is that _______.
a. the aversive event is signaled
b. the aversive event is not signaled
c. the aversive event is signaled twice
d. there is no aversive event
Ans: B Ref: 162
40. Douglas Anger proposed that there is a signal in the Sidman avoidance procedure. The signal is
________.
a. reinforcement
b. the aversive event
c. fatigue
d. time
Ans: D Ref: 162
41. According to the one-process theory of avoidance, the avoidance response is reinforced by _______.
a. escape from the CS
b. a reduction in the number of aversive events
c. positive reinforcers that follow aversive events
d. non-contingent aversives
Ans: B Ref: 163
Completion
60. The experimental chamber developed by Skinner is often called a _________. Ans: Skinner box (131)
61. Positive reinforcement is sometimes called ______ learning. Ans: reward (133)
62. Negative reinforcement is sometimes called ______ learning. Ans: escape-avoidance (134)
63. Reinforcers such as praise, positive feedback, and smiles are called ______ reinforcers.
Ans: secondary/conditioned (139)
64. _______ reinforcers are those that have been arranged by someone. Ans: Contrived (141)
65. The area of the brain that seems to be associated with reinforcement is called the reward _______.
Ans: pathway/ circuit. (151)
66. Clark Hull's name is associated with the _______ theory of reinforcement. Ans: drive-reduction (154)
67. The _______ principle states that high probability behavior reinforces low probability behavior.
Ans: Premack (155)
68. _______ theory assumes that a behavior becomes reinforcing when we are prevented from
performing it as ofen as we normally would. Ans: Response deprivation (157)
69. In _______ _ a response is followed by the withdrawal of, or reduction in the intensity
of, an aversive stimulus. Ans: negative reinforcement (159)
70. Operant learning is often described as trial-and-error learning, but Thorndike argued that behavior
was selected by ______. Ans: success (164)
Short Essay
The idea is that our surroundings provide feedback about what we do. In a sense, it tells us, “Yes,
that was good. Do that again” or, “No. That was a mistake. Don’t do it again.”
72. What are the differences between classical conditioning and operant learning? (141)
The essential elements students should mention is that classical conditioning involves stimulus-
contingent stimuli and reflexive behavior; operant learning involves response-contingent stimuli and
non-reflexive behavior.
73. Compare Premack’s relative value theory with the response deprivation theory of Timberlake and
Allison. (155-158)
Students should note that both define reinforcers as behavior, but that Premack says reinforcers are
defined by their probability relative to other responses while Timberlake and Allison define
reinforcers by their level of deprivation relative to their baseline rate.
74. What is the chief problem with the two-process theory of avoidance? (160)
Answers should probably focus on the fact that the avoidance response continues even when the CS
is no longer aversive.
75. How does the Sidman avoidance procedure differ from other avoidance procedures? (162)
Answers should note the absence of any stimulus preceding the shock or other aversive.
— Vik, vik, vii ii! nyt on joulu! Aamulla tulee suntio kirkkoon ja
sytyttää pitkällä puutikulla kynttilät. Sitten meillä on oikein hauskaa!
— Vik, vik, vii, ii, ii, rientäkääpä pojat, että joudutaan ennen kotiin
kuin herrasväki, kehoitteli emohiiri. Tänään saamme kissaltakin
kunniallisen joulurauhan. Kylläisenä makaa se salin sohvalla.
Emojänis jatkoi:
Karta pellon aitaa, jos jonkun talon, tai torpan pihajänikseksi satut
joutumaan. Pellon aita olisi kyllä hyvä ystäväsi, vaan siinä piilee
vaaroja. Näes, torpan tai talon pieni poika saattaa virittää
hirttolangan pellon aidan rakoon, johonkin aukkoon, josta polkusi olet
pujoittanut ja lanka on niin hieno ja hajuttomaksi kuusen havuilla
sivelty, että sinä et sitä huomaakaan ennenkuin olet sen silmukassa.
Karta siis laittamasta polkuasi niin, että se pujotteleikse aidan raosta.
Katsele veräjä ja kulje siitä, se on varminta. Ja jos ei torpan mies
aukaisisi veräjää ensi lumen tultua, niin löytyy aina aidassa
suurempia aukkoja, jotka eivät ole vaarallisia.
Puputti oli taas jäänyt yksin latonsa kupeelle. Toveri oli lähtenyt
kerran yksin tepastelemaan läheiseen korpeen ja siellä pistänyt
päänsä loukkuun, jonka torpan mies oli virittänyt.
Ja nyt hän oli yksin. Suru painoi yksinäisinä pakkasöinä niin, ettei
kehdannut lähteä edes lämpimikseen hyppelemään. Ruokakaan ei
maistunut.
— No, ainahan sitä sellaista sattuu, eikä siinä suru auta. Taisi olla
ihan läheinen sukulainen, jos lie ollut ihan oma toveri, arveli harakka.
Tulipa sitten eteen aukeama, jonka laidassa kulki leveä tie. Puputti
loikkasi tielle, huomaamatta sitä ennenkuin oli jo melkein yli
pääsemässä. Mitä ihmettä? Tietä pitkin kulki rinnan kaksi mustaa
nauhaa, jotka olivat yhtä etäällä toisistaan. Puputti pyörsi
säikähtyneenä takaisin ja painautui rämeen juurelle. Mitähän se oli?
Hetkisen perästä uskalsi hän loikata tielle uudelleen. Piti ihan
käpälällään koettaa sitä mustaa nauhaa. Puuta se ei ollut, taisi olla
rautaa. Puputti töllisteli ja huomasi nyt pylväitä, joita myöten kulki
hieno rihma. Mitähän se oli? Taisi olla samaa rihmaa, jota poikaset
virittelivät metsään tallatuille poluille ja aidan rakoihin. Se lauloi
somasti tuulessa ja se näytti jatkuvan loppumattomiin.
— Älähän pelkää, en minä sinulle pahaa tee, usahti Mikki, joka oli
koiran nimi. Minä olenkin vain tällainen pieni kartanokoiran retus,
rakki, niinkuin sanotaan ja sellaisena jänöjussien ystävä. No, tulehan
pakinoille.
— Ota nyt pitkiä askelia, kehoitti Mikki ja niin mentiin niin että vilisi.
Mutta pojatkin pysyivät kintereillä. Puputin sydän oli seisahtua
pelosta, mutta hän koetti parastaan pysyäkseen Mikin perässä.
Pojat jäivät jo muutamassa pimeässä loukossa ja Puputti huohotti
niin, että henki oli katketa. Mikki naureksi seikkailulle, mutta Puputin
rintaa kouristi koti-ikävä niin rajusti, ettei voinut sanaakaan lausua.
Jos hän onnistuisi vielä ehjin nahoin pääsemään tästä oudosta
paikasta, niin ei koskaan enää lähtisi pahaa maailmaa katselemaan.
Oli ollut maaliskuun kantava hanki, kun Puputti lähti. Nyt oli
huhtikuun leuto yö, kun hän sai oikaista pitkin pituuttaan omaan
makuukseensa ja haukata ladosta hienoa heinää, jota torpan mies
oli jättänyt sinne hänen varalleen.
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