Unit 1 - LAA3 - Operant Conditioning

Question 1

According to Skinner, how is behaviour learnt?

Answer 1

Through consequences

Question 2

Who argued that behaviour is learnt through consequences?

Answer 2

Skinner

Question 3

What types of reinforcements are there?

Answer 3

Positive and negative

Question 4

Positive and negative are types of what in operant conditioning?

Answer 4

reinforcements

Question 5

Skinner believed that learning was what type of process?

Answer 5

active

Question 6

Who believed that learning was an active process?

Answer 6

Skinner

Question 7

What happens when humans and animals act on and in their environment according to operant conditioning?

Answer 7

consequences follow these behaviours.

Question 8

If consequences are pleasant, what does that mean about behaviour?

Answer 8

It will be repeated

Question 9

If behaviour is repeated, what does that mean about the consequences of their actions?

Answer 9

That they were positive consequences

Question 10

If consequences are unpleasant, what does that mean about behaviour?

Answer 10

It will not be repeated

Question 11

If a behaviour is not repeated, what does this mean about the consequences of their actions?

Answer 11

That they were negative.

Question 12

Do reinforcements strengthen or weaken behaviour?

Answer 12

Strengthen

Question 13

What strengthens behaviour according to operant conditioning?

Answer 13

Reinforcements (positive and negative)

Question 14

Do punishments strengthen or weaken behaviour?

Answer 14

Weaken

Question 15

What weakens behaviour according to operant conditioning?

Answer 15

Punishments

Question 16

What is meant by positive reinforcement?

Answer 16

Increases the chance of a behaviour occurring again by providing a pleasant consequence or reward.

Question 17

What is being described below:
Increases the chance of a behaviour occurring again by providing a pleasant consequence or reward.

Answer 17

Positive reinforcement

Question 18

What is meant by negative reinforcement?

Answer 18

Increases the chance of a behaviour occurring again by removing (or escape from) an unpleasant stimulus.

Question 19

What is being described below:
Increases the chance of a behaviour occurring again by removing (or escape from) an unpleasant stimulus.

Answer 19

Negative reinforcement

Question 20

What is meant by punishment?

Answer 20

Decreases the chance of the behaviours occurring again by removing an unpleasant consequence.

Question 21

What is being described below:
Decreases the chance of the behaviours occurring again by removing an unpleasant consequence.

Answer 21

Punishment

Question 22

Decide whether the following is an example of positive or negative reinforcement or punishment:
A rat receives an electric shock to his brain, which creates pleasure every time he presses a bar. Before long, the rat is pressing the bar 50 times per minute.

Answer 22

Positive reinforcement

Question 23

Decide whether the following is an example of positive or negative reinforcement or punishment:
Fred refuses to take out the rubbish so his mother refuses to allow him to watch his favourite TV show.

Answer 23

Punishment

Question 24

Decide whether the following is an example of positive or negative reinforcement or punishment:
Andrew is upset because every time he goes to school he is bullied. Andrew’s mother noticed he complains he feels sick every morning and asks to stay home from school. His mother usually agrees.

Answer 24

Negative reinforcement

Question 25

Decide whether the following is an example of positive or negative reinforcement or punishment: Tim is learning to play the trombone. His parents say that each time he successfully learns a new piece he can have some money.

Answer 25

Positive reinforcement

Question 26

Decide whether the following is an example of positive or negative reinforcement or punishment: When a horn sounds, hamsters jump on the wheel in their cages and begin running. They know that if they don’t jump on the wheel, a blast of cold air will blow.

Answer 26

Negative reinforcement

Question 27

How was positive reinforcement shown in Skinners rats experiment?

Answer 27

When the rat pressed the lever it would be rewarded with food. The rat would continue to press the lever to get the same reward of food.

Question 28

How was negative reinforcement shown in Skinners rats experiment?

Answer 28

Electrical current ran through the floor of the box. When the rat moved and touched the lever, the current would stop. The rat would continue to press the lever to remove the unpleasant consequence of being shocked.

Question 29

What is meant by token economies?

Answer 29

Form of behaviour modification designed to increase desirable behaviour and decrease undesirable behaviour with the use of tokens.

Question 30

What is being described below: Form of behaviour modification designed to increase desirable behaviour and decrease undesirable behaviour with the use of tokens.

Answer 30

Token economies

Question 31

What is meant by Extrinsic motivation?

Answer 31

External motivation which comes from the environment.

Question 32

What type of motivation is being described: External motivation which comes from the environment.

Answer 32

Extrinsic motivation

Question 33

Who/What can extrinsically motivate you?

Answer 33

Family, Friends, Teachers, actually rewards or avoiding punishments.

Question 34

What is meant by Intrinsic motivation?

Answer 34

Internal motivation that comes from your own enjoyment, pleasure and interest.

Question 35

What type of motivation is being described: Internal motivation that comes from your own enjoyment, pleasure and interest.

Answer 35

Intrinsic motivation

Question 36

What practical applications are there for operant conditioning?

Answer 36

The theory can be used to help create treatments and interventions in schools, prisons and hospitals to manage behaviour.