Operant conditioning

Question 1

What is operant conditioning

Answer 1

Learning through consequences

Question 2

State the three types of consequences

Answer 2

Positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement and punishment

Question 3

Which two consequences increases the likelihood of behaviour

Answer 3

Positive and negative reinforcement

Question 4

Which consequence decreases the likelihood of behaviour

Answer 4

Punishment

Question 5

Name the psychologist who investigated operant conditioning

Answer 5

B.F. Skinner (1953)

Question 6

What was the punishment in Skinner’s box

Answer 6

Receiving an electric shock if the rat pressed the lever

Question 7

What was the positive reinforcement in Skinner’s box

Answer 7

Receiving a food pellet when the rat pressed the lever

Question 8

What was the negative reinforcement in Skinner’s box

Answer 8

Pressing the lever to stop the electric shock

Question 9

What did Skinner find

Answer 9

• PR the rat learnt to press the lever if repeatedly given a food pellet
• NR the rat learns to press lever if repeatedly the electric shock stops when they press it
• P the rat learns to stop pressing the lever if repeatedly given an electric shock when they press it

Question 10

State one real life example of operant conditioning

Answer 10

Video game addiction