Principles of Operant Conditioning and Reinforcement Quiz

Test your knowledge on operant conditioning and reinforcement. Explore key concepts, psychologists, and schedules in behaviorism.

#1

Which psychologist is best known for developing the principles of operant conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov
B.F. Skinner
Albert Bandura
Sigmund Freud
#2

What is the primary focus of operant conditioning?

Involuntary responses
Classical conditioning
Voluntary behaviors
Instinctual behaviors
#3

Which term refers to increasing the likelihood of a behavior by removing an aversive stimulus?

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Extinction
#4

In operant conditioning, what does the term 'shaping' refer to?

Gradually increasing the difficulty of a task
Training a behavior by reinforcing successive approximations
Punishing unwanted behaviors
Pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
#5

What is the term for the process of decreasing the likelihood of a behavior by adding an aversive stimulus?

Positive reinforcement
Negative reinforcement
Punishment
Extinction
#6

Which reinforcement schedule is characterized by reinforcing a behavior after a set number of responses?

Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Variable interval
#7

In operant conditioning, what is the term for the process of no longer reinforcing a previously reinforced behavior?

Extinction
Punishment
Discrimination
Generalization
#8

Which term refers to the gradual disappearance of a learned behavior when it is no longer reinforced?

Extinction
Punishment
Discrimination
Generalization
#9

What is the primary difference between positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement?

Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus; negative reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus.
Positive reinforcement removes an aversive stimulus; negative reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus.
Positive reinforcement involves punishment; negative reinforcement involves rewards.
Positive reinforcement occurs after a behavior; negative reinforcement occurs before a behavior.
#10

Which of the following schedules of reinforcement leads to the highest rate of response?

Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Variable interval
#11

Which of the following is an example of positive punishment?

Receiving a bonus for good performance
Being scolded for misbehaving
Ignoring a child's tantrum
Allowing extra playtime for completing chores
#12

What is an example of a secondary reinforcer?

Food
Money
Water
Sexual satisfaction
#13

What is an example of negative punishment?

Giving a child a timeout for misbehaving
Praising a student for good grades
Giving a dog a treat for sitting on command
Allowing a teenager to stay out past curfew
#14

Which reinforcement schedule is characterized by reinforcing a behavior after an unpredictable number of responses?

Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Variable interval
#15

In operant conditioning, what does the term 'chaining' refer to?

Breaking a behavior into smaller steps and reinforcing each step
Reinforcing a behavior only in specific circumstances
Reinforcing a behavior after a fixed number of responses
Reinforcing a behavior after an unpredictable number of responses
#16

What is an example of positive reinforcement?

Receiving a speeding ticket for driving too fast
Being yelled at for not cleaning your room
Getting a sticker for completing homework
Having your phone taken away for talking back

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