Chapter 3

Question 1

We can reject a null hypothesis when the p value is:

Answer 1

Less than 0.05.

Question 2

Define variable interval reinforcement:

Answer 2

Reinforcement of a behavior which is given at random times, this is less prone to extinction than variable ratio reinforcement, but is more resistant than fixed ratio reinforcement

Question 3

Which of the following is not an example of traditional operant conditioning?

a. A person playing on a slot machine in Vegas notices there are small occasional payouts.
b. A student stops asking questions after being berated by the teacher.
c. A fruit picker gets paid by the bushel of apples instead of by the hour.
d. After paying into social security during their career, a person retires and begins to receive social security benefits at the age of 65.

Answer 3

d - After paying into social security during their career, a person retires and begins to recieve social security benefits at the age of 65.

Question 4

Define positive punishment:

Answer 4

Positive punishment is the addition of a stimulus that causes a decrease in the target bahavior - this stimulus can be positive/negative reinforcement, positive here just means adding some stimulus to achieve the goal behavior.

Question 5

Define negative punishment:

Answer 5

Negative punishment is the removal of a favorable stimulus after the target behavior occurs. Here “negative” just means to remove a stimulus in order to achieve a target behavior. Example - taking toys aways from a small child after they threw a lego at their peer.

Question 6

Define a fixed interval schedule:

Answer 6

Reinforcement for a behavior is available after after a specific time interval - but never right away.

Question 7

Define a variable interval schedule:

Answer 7

Reinforcement for a behavior is available after a variable amount of time - but never right away.

Question 8

Define variable reinforcement:

Answer 8

The reinforcement of a behavior after a variable number of responses, and will have the greatest resistance to behavior extinction.

Question 10

Define fixed ratio reinforcement:

Answer 10

Reinforcement that occurs after a specific number of performances of the bahavior - this has a higher likelihood to go through behavior extinction.

Question 11

Define variable ratio reinforcement:

Answer 11

Reinforcement of behaviors that occur after a variable number of responses. This is most resistant to behavior extinction.

Question 12

Define continuous reinforcement:

Answer 12

Reinforcement every time the behavior occurs - this will have the highest rate of behavior extinction, because once the reinforcement stops, the person will give up on the behavior.

Question 13

Define positive punishment:

Answer 13

A punishment where a stimulus is added in order to decrease a target behavior - this stimulus can be positive/negative reinforcement, “positive” here just means to add a stimulus.

Question 14

Define negative punishment:

Answer 14

A punishment where a favorable stimulus is removed after the target behavior occurs. “negative” just means the removal of a stimulus.

Question 15

Define operant conditioning:

Answer 15

When voluntary behaviors are modified based on rewards or punishments. This is sometimes forced (training a dog), or can be naturally learned (winning while betting). These will often include a fixed-ratio reinforcement.

Question 16

Which of the following is NOT an example of operant conditioning?

a. A person playing on a slot machine in Vegas notices there are occasional payouts.
b. A student stops asking questions after getting berated by the teacher.
c. A fruit picker gets paid by the apple bushel, rather than by the hour.
d. A person pays into social security their entire career, and at the age of 65, retires and begins getting social security benefits.

Answer 16

d - A person pays into social security their entire career, and at the age of 65, retires and begins getting social security benefits.