Operant Conditioning Combined

Question 1

When a previously reinforced behavior is no longer reinforced it results in…

Answer 1

Operant extinction

Question 2

This type of reinforcement schedule results in the fastest acquisition of a new behavior, but is also associated with rapid extinction and satiation

Answer 2

Continuous reinforcement (i.e., every time the response occurs)

Question 3

This is the term for when a reinforcer loses its reinforcing value.

Answer 3

Satiation

Question 4

This type of variable reinforcement schedule occurs at a set time duration, so long as the behavior occurred at least once in that time.

Answer 4

Fixed interval

Question 5

This type of variable reinforcement schedule occurs at differing time durations, so long as the behavior occurred at least once in that time.

Answer 5

Variable interval

Question 6

This type of variable reinforcement schedule occurs when reinforcement is provided after a set number of behavioral responses.

Answer 6

Fixed ratio

Question 7

This type of variable reinforcement schedule occurs when reinforcement is provided after an unpredictable number of behavioral responses.

Answer 7

Variable ratio

Question 8

This type of variable reinforcement schedule produces the greatest rate of responding and the greatest resistance to extinction.

Answer 8

Variable ratio

Question 9

In operant conditioning, this term refers to a decreasing amount of reinforcement that is provided following a behavior.

Answer 9

Thinning

Question 10

This term refers to a temporary increase in a previously reinforced behavior that can immediately occur after reinforcement is withheld.

Answer 10

Extinction burst

Question 11

When different reinforcement schedules are concurrently provided for two or more behaviors, the rate of behavior will be proportional to the frequency of reinforcement. This is known as…

Answer 11

the matching law

Question 12

According to Skinner, this is the term for when a behavior increases due to accidental reinforcement.

Answer 12

Superstitious behavior

Question 13

When cues signal whether or not a behavior will be reinforced, which determines whether it will be performed, this is known as…

Answer 13

Stimulus control 
(This is a form of two-factor learning which combines operant and classical [pairing] components)

Question 14

This refers to establishing a behavior by reinforcing successive approximations to that behavior

Answer 14

Shaping

note: only the final behavior is important

Question 15

This refers to establishing a complex pattern of behaviors that is made up of numerous individual responses linked together.

Answer 15

Chaining

note: this is a collection of individual responses

Question 16

This refers to when a preferred behavior is used to reinforce and increase a low-frequency behavior.

Answer 16

Premack principle

e.g., “No dessert until you eat your peas.”

Question 17

This is a type of positive punishment that requires the person to correct the consequences of their misbehavior (restitution) and/or practice alternative and more appropriate behavior (positive practice)

Answer 17

Overcorrection

Question 18

This is a type of negative punishment that removes all opportunities for reinforcement for a brief period of time.

Answer 18

Time out

Question 19

This is a type of negative punishment that involves withdrawing a desirable activity or other reinforcer.

Answer 19

Response cost
("Ten points from Gryffindor!")

Question 20

This operant intervention (which combines extinction with positive reinforcement) involves removing reinforcement of an undesirable behavior while reinforcing a specific, alternate behavior.

Answer 20

Differential reinforcement of alternate behavior (DRA)

Question 21

This operant intervention (which combines extinction with positive reinforcement) involves removing reinforcement of an undesirable behavior while reinforcing engaging in unspecified other behaviors.

Answer 21

Differential reinforcement of other behaviors (DRO)

Question 22

This operant intervention (which combines extinction with positive reinforcement) involves removing reinforcement of an undesirable behavior while reinforcing an incompatible behavior that can’t be performed simultaneously.

Answer 22

Differential reinforcement of incompatible behavior (DRI)

Question 23

This operant intervention (which combines extinction with positive reinforcement) involves reinforcing only when the behavior occurs at lower rates.

Answer 23

Differential reinforcement of low rates of behavior (DRL)

Question 24

This refers to the effects of changing a reinforcement schedule for one behavioral response when compared to the reinforcement of another response when the reinforcement of the second response remains unchanged.

Answer 24

Behavioral contrast

This the result of matching law

Question 25

This type of reinforcer is inherently reinforcing due to it fulfilling basic survival needs.

Answer 25

Primary reinforcer

Question 26

This type of positive reinforcer are neutral stimuli that become reinforcing because of their association with primary reinforcers.

Answer 26

Secondary reinforcer (e.g., praise)

Question 27

When secondary reinforcers are associated with a variety of back-up (primary) reinforcers, they are referred to as _____?

Answer 27

Generalized reinforcers (also known as generalized secondary reinforcers)

Money is an example, as it can be exchanged for goods and services.

Question 28

This is the result of two-factor learning and occurs when a stimulus signals that an unpleasant stimulus is about to be applied and a behavior occurs because it allows the individual to avoid the unpleasant stimulus.

Answer 28

Avoidance conditioning

Question 29

This refers generally to the gradual decline in the frequency or magnitude of a response. In operant conditioning, it’s considered a reason that punishment isn’t useful for long-term behavior change.

Answer 29

Habituation

Question 30

Gradually removing a prompt once the behavior is at the desired level is referred to as _____.

Answer 30

Fading

Question 31

In some situations, providing reinforcement for a specific behavior not only increases that behavior but also increases the likelihood that similar behaviors will occur. This is called _____?

Answer 31

Response Generalization

Question 32

This occurs when stimuli similar to the positive discriminative (conditioned) stimulus elicit the same response. This is the same name in both classical and operant conditioning.

Answer 32

Stimulus generalization

Question 33

This theory holds that behaviors which are followed by satisfying consequences are likely to occur again, while behaviors that are followed by dissatisfying consequences are less likely to be repeated.

Answer 33

Thorndike’s Law of Effect