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)