AP Psychology : Learning

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for AP Psychology

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Example Questions

Example Question #39 : Operant Conditioning

Which of the following statements is most accurate regarding the reinforcement-as-activity approach (i.e. the Premack principle)?

Possible Answers:

Higher-probability activities reinforce lower-probability activities

Children’s preferences for reinforcement activities tend to be consistent and universal  

Lower-probability activities reinforce higher-probability activities

Reinforcement only occurs when existing activities and desired behaviors are relatively equal in probability

Correct answer:

Higher-probability activities reinforce lower-probability activities

Explanation:

When using the Premack principle, it is important to consider activities that are highly preferred by the individual. What is the child’s favorite thing to do? Play video games, or play basketball? Whichever behavior is preferred tends to have a higher probability of occurring naturally and that activity would be used as reinforcement for a less-preferred (i.e. lower-probability) activity like cleaning up one’s bedroom.

Example Question #40 : Operant Conditioning

An annoying beeping noise is playing in a rat's cage. When it presses a lever, the noise goes away. Eventually, the rat begins pressing the lever often, even when the beeping is not playing. This is an example of which of the following aspects of operant conditioning? 

Possible Answers:

Positive reinforcement

Punishment

Extinction

Chaining

Negative reinforcement

Correct answer:

Negative reinforcement

Explanation:

Negative reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior, such as pressing a lever, by removing an aversive—unpleasant—stimulus (e.g. the annoying beep) when that behavior occurs. Using the current example, positive reinforcement would be a food pellet appearing when the lever was pressed. Negative reinforcement is often confused with punishment, but punishment decreases the likelihood of some behavior. It is important to note that both positive and negative reinforcement increase the likelihood of that behavior.

Example Question #41 : Operant Conditioning

Whereas operant conditioning primarily involves voluntary, spontaneous responses, ______________ involves mostly involuntary reflexes and visceral responses.

Possible Answers:

None of the above

Modeling

Classical conditioning

Observational learning

Correct answer:

Classical conditioning

Explanation:

Classical conditioning usually involves involuntary reflexes or visceral responses (think about the salivation of Pavlov's dogs). Observational learning such as modeling involves voluntary responses (e.g., a child mimicking a parent's gestures).

Example Question #41 : Operant Conditioning

You get in your car and start backing out of the driveway. Upon moving, the car starts to beep, signaling that you have not buckled your seat belt. The sound is so annoying that you quickly buckle your seat belt in an attempt to make the beeping stop. The beeping is an example of which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Continuous reinforcement 

Negative punishment 

Positive punishment 

Positive reinforcement 

Negative reinforcement 

Correct answer:

Negative reinforcement 

Explanation:

The beeping is considered to be negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is the type of reinforcement that occurs when an unpleasant stimuli is removed upon performing a behavior. Reinforcement always increases a behavior. In this case, the unpleasant stimulus is the car beeping and the behavior is buckling the seat belt. Positive reinforcement, on the other hand, is the application of a reward upon performing a behavior. Again, reinforcement (either positive or negative) always increases behavior. Both negative and positive punishments decrease behavior. Negative punishment is taking away something good upon performing a behavior (e.g. getting TV taken away due to a bad test grade). Positive punishment is the application of an unpleasant punishment upon performing a behavior (e.g. speeding on the freeway will result in a ticket).

Example Question #42 : Operant Conditioning

Sandy is an aspiring singer. Even though she loves to sing, she also experiences severe stage fright before and during a performance. Sometimes when she is feeling so overwhelmed or nervous before a performance, she will decide to cancel the show because of her anxiety. Lately, even when she sees a stage or a microphone, she begins to feel panicked and notices her breathing and heart rate increase. 

Sandy's actions (i.e. canceling a show when she is feeling anxious) relieve an uncomfortable feeling; therefore, they are considered to be which of the following types of behaviors. 

Possible Answers:

Positively punished

Positively reinforced

Negatively reinforced

Negatively punished

Correct answer:

Negatively reinforced

Explanation:

Behavior can be shaped through operant conditioning through the use of rewards and punishments. "Negative reinforcement "occurs when you remove or relieve a negative feeling. In this case, Sandy's behavior of canceling the show is being negatively reinforced because it removes the feelings of anxiety. 

Example Question #41 : Operant Conditioning

A researcher is testing learning on rats. He decided to reward rats with a piece of food for pressing a lever. Once the rats learned the association between the lever and reward, the researcher decided that he wants to maximize the number of lever presses and give out the least number of food pieces. In order to achieve this, what type of reinforcement schedule should the researcher use?

Possible Answers:

Ratio reinforcement

Negative reinforcement

Positive reinforcement

Interval reinforcement

Correct answer:

Ratio reinforcement

Explanation:

Reinforcement schedules can be fixed or variable and ratio or interval. In general, "ratio reinforcement" schedules are most resistant to extinction compared to interval schedules. On the other hand, "negative reinforcement" and "positive reinforcement" are not reinforcement schedules.

Example Question #692 : Ap Psychology

A slot machine uses which type of reinforcement schedule?

Possible Answers:

Fixed-ratio

Variable-interval

Variable-ratio

Fixed-interval

Correct answer:

Variable-ratio

Explanation:

A "variable-ratio" reinforcement schedule delivers a reinforcer after a variable number of non-reinforced responses. In the same way, slot machines give a reinforcement (i.e. winning) after a variable number of losses. This type of reinforcement schedule elicits a higher resistance to extinction with high steady rates of responding making it very lucrative for the casino industry.

Example Question #691 : Ap Psychology

During an operant conditioning experiment, a researcher provides a rat with a shock every time that the rat demonstrates a particular behavior. This type of operant conditioning is referred to as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Negative reinforcement

Negative punishment

Positive punishment

Positive reinforcement

Correct answer:

Positive punishment

Explanation:

"Positive punishment" occurs when a stimulus (e.g. shock) is provided and weakens a response. "Negative punishment" occurs when a stimulus (often a pleasant one) is removed and this weakens a response. "Positive reinforcement" is when a stimulus (often a pleasant one) is provided and strengthens a response. Last, "negative reinforcement" occurs when a stimulus (often an unpleasant one) is removed and this strengthens a response.

Example Question #42 : Operant Conditioning

During an operant conditioning experiment, a researcher provides a rat with a sugar pellet every time that the rat demonstrates a particular behavior. This type of operant conditioning is referred to as which of the following?

Possible Answers:

Positive punishment

Negative punishment

Negative reinforcement

Positive reinforcement

Correct answer:

Positive reinforcement

Explanation:

"Positive reinforcement" is when a stimulus (e.g. sugar pellet) is provided that strengthens a response. "Negative reinforcement" occurs when a stimulus (often an unpleasant one) is removed and this strengthens a response. "Positive punishment occurs" when a stimulus (often an unpleasant one) is provided and this weakens a response. Last, "negative punishment" occurs when a stimulus (often a pleasant one) is removed and this weakens a response.

Example Question #44 : Operant Conditioning

Marc goes to his job and performs his duties assigned to him. He receives his paycheck every two weeks. In terms of his paycheck, which of the following schedules describes the reinforcement schedule of Marc's job experience?

Possible Answers:

Variable-ratio

Variable-shaping

Fixed-ratio

Fixed-interval

Variable-interval

Correct answer:

Fixed-interval

Explanation:

Marc is on a "fixed-intervalreinforcement schedule. This is because he is reinforced after a certain fixed amount of time has gone by. It is not "fixed-ratio," because it does not depend on his behaviors emitted. It also is not "variable-interval," because there is no varying time in between his reinforcement: it's every two weeks. It is not "variable-ratio" because he is not being reinforced for a certain amount of behaviors and the time does not vary in between reinforcement (i.e. paycheck delivery). Last,"variable-shaping" is not a real reinforcement schedule. 

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