Deck 4: Increasing a Behavior With Positive Reinforcement

Question 1

Does extrinsic reinforcement undermine intrinsic motivation? Discuss.

Answer 1

Research indicates that the answer is no.Moreover, the notion that extrinsic reinforcers undermine intrinsic interest flies in the face of common sense.If extrinsic reinforcers undermine intrinsic motivation, for example, then those people who genuinely enjoy their jobs should refuse to be paid for fear that their paychecks will destroy their enjoyment of their work.

Question 2

What is a positive reinforcer?

Answer 2

A positive reinforcer is an event which, when presented immediately following a behavior, causes the behavior to increase in frequency.

Question 3

Describe the baseline condition for Darren's program.

Answer 3

Darrin's mother played with him as she did at home, and his cooperative and commanding behaviors were monitored.

Question 4

Using the definition of positive reinforcer, how might you conduct a test to determine if the social attention of a particular adult is or is not reinforcing for a withdrawn child?

Question 5

What is a motivating operation? Give two examples, one of which should not be from this chapter.

Question 6

Give an example of positive reinforcement of a desirable behavior that you have encountered.Identify the situation, behavior, immediate consequence, and probable long-term effects (As shown in Table 4.1).The example should not be from the text.

Question 7

In what way is positive reinforcement like gravity?

Question 8

Why is it necessary to be specific when selecting a behavior for a reinforcement program?

Question 9

Describe the Premack principle.

Question 10

What is the principle of positive reinforcement?

Question 11

"It is always the individual's performance that tells you whether or not you have selected an effective reinforcer." Explain what this means.

Question 12

List the five somewhat overlapping headings under which most positive reinforcers can be classified, and give an example of each that would be a positive reinforcer for you.

Question 13

What is a baseline? Give an example of a baseline.

Question 14

What do behavior modifiers mean by the term deprivation? Give an example.

Question 15

Describe the treatment condition for Darren's program.

Question 16

What is operant behavior? Give an example, and indicate how the example fits the definition of operant behavior.

Question 17

Using the definition of positive reinforcer, describe the steps to test if a particular item is a reinforcer for someone. Illustrate with an example that is not from this chapter.

Question 18

What do behavior modifiers mean by the term satiation? Give an example.

Question 19

How are positive and negative reinforcement similar, and how are they different?

Question 20

Define negative reinforcement and give an example that is not from this chapter.

Question 21

What do we mean by the natural environment? By natural reinforcers?
By programmed reinforcers?

Question 22

What is adventitious reinforcement? What is a superstitious behavior?
Give an example of each that is not in this chapter.

Question 23

Ideally, what four qualities should a reinforcer have (besides the necessary quality of functioning as a reinforcer)? (See p.42.)

Question 24

Describe three behavioral episodes in this chapter that involved natural reinforcers.

Question 25

Distinguish between the direct- and indirect-acting effects of reinforcement.

Question 26

Give an example of contingent reinforcement that is not in this chapter.

Question 27

Describe an example of the Pitfall that involves a person unknowingly applying positive reinforcement to strengthen an undesirable behavior.

Question 28

Is it correct to conclude that a withdrawn child necessarily does not like attention from other people? Explain.

Question 29

Consider this statement: "A college student was reinforced for studying for three hours on the weekend by getting a good grade on the test the following week." How does this statement exemplify the Inaccurate-Explanation-of-Behavior Pitfall?

Question 30

How do some authors use the terms direct and indirect contingencies of reinforcement? What suggestions do the authors of this text make regarding that usage, and why?

Question 31

Discuss evidence that people's behavior can be modified without their being aware of it.

Question 32

What are three indicators that a behavior change is due to indirect-acting versus direct-acting effects?

Question 33

When Coach Keedwell required young swimmers to show improved performance in order to earn a fun activity at the end of practice, their performance improved dramatically.
Was this a direct-acting or an indirect-acting effect of reinforcement?
Justify your choice.

Question 34

Briefly describe, in a sentence each, eight factors that influence the effectiveness of reinforcement.

Question 35

State the second type of Inaccurate-Explanation-of-Behavior Pitfall, and give an example.

Question 36

Should you tell an individual with whom you are using reinforcement about the reinforcement program before putting it into effect? Why or why not?

Question 37

Give an example of noncontingent reinforcement that is not in this chapter.

Question 38

State the Partial-Knowledge Misapplication Pitfall. How is this pitfall exemplified by Coach Keedwell?