AP Psychology Module 27: Operant Conditioning and Module 28: Operant Conditioning's Applications, and Comparison to Classical Conditioning
What do we call it when the CR decreases as the CS is repeatedly presented alone? a. Generalization b. Discrimination c. Spontaneous recovery d. Extinction e. Acquisition
D
Law of effect
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and that behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely
Respondent behavior
behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus (classical)
Operant behavior
behavior that operates on the environment, producing consequences
Operant chamber
in operant conditioning research, a chamber (also known as a Skinner box) containing a bar or key that an animal can manipulate to obtain a food or water reinforcer; attached devices record the animal's rate of bar pressing or key pecking.
Discriminative stimulus
in operant conditioning, a stimulus that elicits a response after association with reinforcement (in contrast to related stimuli not associated with reinforcement)
Reinforcement
in operant conditioning, any event that strengthens the behavior it follows
Partial (intermittent) reinforcement
reinforcing a response only part of the time; results in slower acquisition of a response but much greater resistance to extinction than does continuous reinforcement
Continuous reinforcement
reinforcing the desired response every time it occurs
The basic idea behind classical conditioning is that the organism a. associates events. b. associates behavior and resulting events. c. voluntarily operates on the environment. d. associates response with a consequence. e. quits responding when reward stops.
A
Thorndike's principle that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely is known as what? a. Law of effect b. Operant conditioning c. Shaping d. Respondent behavior e. Discrimination
A
What do we call behavior that occurs as an automatic response to some stimulus? a. Respondent behavior b. Operant behavior c. Extinguished behavior d. Biofeedback conditioning e. Skinnerian conditioning
A
What do we call the kind of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer? a. Operant conditioning b. Respondent behavior c. Classical conditioning d. Shaping
A
Which of the following best describes a discriminative stimulus? a. Something that elicits a response after association with a reinforcer b. An innately reinforcing stimulus c. Something that when removed increases the likelihood of the behavior d. An event that decreases the behavior it follows e. An amplified stimulus feeding back information to responses
A
Superstitious behavior can be produced by a. careful manipulation of a classical conditioning experiment. b. the accidental timing of rewards. c. possession of a large number of traditionally lucky items. d. cognitive awareness of superstitious behavior in others. e. the change in a reinforcement schedule from ratio to interval.
B
What do we call the reappearance, after a rest period, of an extinguished response? a. Acquisition b. Spontaneous recovery c. Discrimination d. Operant conditioning e. Classical conditioning
B
All of the following are examples of primary reinforcers except a a. rat's food reward in a Skinner box. b. cold drink on a hot day. c. high score on an exam for which a student studied diligently. d. hug from a loved one. e. large meal following an extended time without food.
C
Positive reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by presenting positive stimuli, such as food. A positive reinforcer is any stimulus that, when presented after a response, strengthens the response.
Negative reinforcement
Increasing behaviors by stopping or reducing negative stimuli, such as shock. A negative reinforcer is any stimulus that, when removed after a response, strengthens the response. (Note: negative reinforcement is not punishment.)
Shaping
The reinforcement of closer and closer approximations of a desired response.
Primary reinforcer
an innately reinforcing stimulus, such as one that satisfies a biological need
Reinforcement schedule
a pattern that defines how often a desired response will be reinforced
Variable-ratio schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response after an unpredictable number of responses
Variable-interval schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response at unpredictable time intervals
Fixed-ratio schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified number of responses
Fixed-interval schedule
a reinforcement schedule that reinforces a response only after a specified time has elapsed
Conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus that gains its reinforcing power through its association with a primary reinforcer; also known as a secondary reinforcer
Operant conditioning
a type of learning in which behavior is strengthened if followed by a reinforcer or diminished if followed by a punisher
Punishment
an event that decreases the behavior that it follows positive: administer an aversive stimulus (spray water on a barking dog) negative: withdraw a rewarding stimulus (take away a teen's driving privileges)