Deck 10: Choice Matching and Self Control

Question 1

According to the matching law, on a concurrent VI 15-sec VI 60-sec schedule of reinforcement, what proportion of responses will be emitted on the VI 15-sec schedule?

A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 75%
D) 80%

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Given a choice between an FR 20 and an FR 80 schedule of reinforcement, a rat would most likely (once it has enough experience) respond

A) four times as often on the FR 20 alternative as the FR 80.
B) four times as often on the FR 80 alternative as the FR 20.
C) entirely on the FR 80 alternative.
D) entirely on the FR 20 alternative.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

According to the matching law, on a concurrent VI 20-sec VI 30-sec schedule of reinforcement, _____ of responses will be emitted on the VI 20-sec alternative.

A) 66.7%
B) 40%
C) 33.3%
D) 60%

Answer 3

A

Question 4

On a concurrent VR 50 VR 100 schedule of reinforcement, a pigeon would likely (once it has enough experience)

A) show exclusive preference for the VR 100 alternative.
B) show exclusive preference for the VR 50 alternative.
C) respond twice as much on the VR 50 alternative as the VR 100.
D) respond twice as much on the VR 100 alternative as the VR 50.

Question 5

A _____ schedule of reinforcement consists of the simultaneous presentation of two or more independent schedules, each of which leads to a reinforcer.

A) multiple
B) chained
C) concurrent
D) mixed

Question 6

In a concurrent schedule, the component schedules

A) are independent schedules.
B) are simultaneously available.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Question 7

A concurrent schedule of reinforcement consists of two or more independent schedules that are _____ available.

A) simultaneously
B) sequentially
C) randomly
D) Both b and c are correct.

Question 8

On a concurrent VI 20-sec VI 30-sec schedule, a rat emits an average of 15 responses per minute on the VI 20 alternative and 10 responses per minute on the VI 30 alternative. These results are consistent with

A) matching.
B) overmatching.
C) undermatching.
D) bias.

Question 9

According to _____, the proportion of responses emitted on a certain schedule will approximately equal the proportion of reinforcers obtained on that schedule.

A) the behavioral contrast effect
B) maximization theory
C) the matching law
D) melioration theory

Question 10

Concurrent schedule is to matching law as

A) simultaneity of reinforcement is to proportionality of reinforcers.
B) proportionality of reinforcers is to simultaneity of reinforcement.
C) S^? is to S^D
D) SD is to S? .

Question 11

On a concurrent VR 200 VR 100 schedule, what percentage of responses would most likely be emitted toward the VR 200 schedule by an experienced pigeon?

A) 100%
B) 66%
C) 33%
D) 0%

Question 12

If Samantha obtains 70% of her sales from client A and 30% from client B, the matching law predicts that she will choose to spend _____ of her time with client A.

A) more than 70%
B) 70%
C) less than 70%
D) 30%

Question 13

Matching would be indicated by an average of _____ responses per minute on a VI 30-sec alternative and _____ responses per minute on a VI 15-sec alternative.

A) 60; 60
B) 60; 120
C) 120; 60
D) 30; 45

Question 14

According to the matching law, the proportion of _____ approximately equals the proportion of _____.

A) reinforcers earned on alternative A; reinforcers earned on alternative B
B) responses emitted on alternative A; responses emitted on alternative B
C) responses emitted on alternative A; reinforcers earned on alternative A
D) responses emitted on alternative B; reinforcers earned on alternative A

Question 15

Choice behavior is generally best studied with a _____ schedule of reinforcement

A) chained
B) concurrent
C) multiple
D) DRO

Question 16

In a concurrent schedule, the component schedules

A) provide only punishers.
B) are sequentially available.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Question 17

During the evening, Rosalie can either watch television or read a book. This is best described as an example of a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) multiple
B) chained
C) concurrent
D) mixed

Question 18

According to the matching law, on a concurrent VI 10-sec VI 30-sec schedule of reinforcement, _____ of responses will be emitted on the VI 30-sec alternative.

A) 25%
B) 33.3%
C) 75%
D) 66.7%

Question 19

According to the matching law, if a pigeon earns 40% of its reinforcers on a yellow key, it will emit _____ of its key pecks toward the yellow key.

A) 40%
B) 50%
C) 60%
D) less than 40%

Question 20

If Jay gets 20% of his positive feedback from Francine and 80% of his positive feedback from Delores, the matching law predicts that he will choose to spend _____ of his time with Delores.

A) 20%
B) 60%
C) 80%
D) more than 80%

Question 21

A short COD is the experimental equivalent of two patches of food that are

A) situated close to each other.
B) situated far apart.
C) very abundant.
D) becoming depleted.

Question 22

On a concurrent schedule, one alternative attracts a higher proportion of responses than would be predicted by matching, regardless of whether the associated schedule is the richer or the poorer schedule. This is an indication of

A) overmatching.
B) undermatching.
C) bias.
D) a short COD.

Question 23

According to Vollmer and Bourret (2000), the proportion of two- versus three-point shots attempted by skilled basketball players is _____ the proportion of points obtained from such shots.

A) greater than
B) less than
C) approximately equal to
D) unrelated to

Question 24

On a concurrent VI 30-sec VI 90-sec schedule, a pigeon responded four times as often on the VI 30-sec alternative. This is an example of

A) matching.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) COD.

Question 25

Which of the following will most likely be the result of no COD on a concurrent VI 60-sec VI 20-sec schedule?

A) No responses emitted on the VI 60-sec schedule
B) 50% of responses emitted on the VI 60-sec schedule
C) 90% of responses emitted on the VI 20-sec schedule
D) 100% of responses emitted on the VI 60-sec schedule

Question 26

In _____, the proportion of responses on the richer versus poorer schedules is _____ different than would be predicted by matching.

A) overmatching; less
B) undermatching; more
C) undermatching; less
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 27

Given the same physical distance between two patches of food, a slow-moving sloth would be more likely to show _____ than a fast-moving bird.

A) undermatching
B) overmatching
C) bias
D) spontaneous recovery

Question 28

The matching law predicts that 57% of responses should be emitted on the VI 15-sec alternative and 43% on the VI 20-sec alternative. A pigeon actually emits 70% of responses on the VI 15-sec alternative and 30% on the VI 20-sec alternative. This is an example of:

A) COD.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) optimization.

Question 29

A useful indicator of preference on concurrent VI schedules is

A) matching.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) bias.

Question 30

Matching has been observed in

A) the foraging behavior of birds.
B) human social interaction.
C) basketball shots.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 31

Matching would be indicated by an average of _____ responses per minute on a VI 10-sec alternative and _____ responses per minute on a VI 60-sec alternative.

A) 20; 120
B) 120; 20
C) 20; 140
D) 140; 20

Question 32

On a concurrent VI 15-sec VI 45-sec schedule, a pigeon responded twice as often on the VI 15-sec alternative. This is an example of

A) matching.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) bias.

Question 33

According to Vollmer and Bourret (2000), the proportion of two- versus three-point shots attempted by _____ basketball players is approximately equal to the proportion of points obtained from such shots.

A) skilled
B) unskilled
C) Both a and b are correct
D) Neither a nor b is correct

Question 34

The matching law predicts that 86% of responses should be emitted on the VI 10-sec alternative and 14% on the VI 60-sec alternative. In reality, a pigeon emits 75% on the VI 10-sec alternative and 25% on the VI 60-sec alternative. This appears to be an example of

A) bias.
B) undermatching.
C) overmatching.
D) optimization.

Question 35

Bias on concurrent VI schedules is an indicator of

A) preference.
B) irrationality.
C) impulsiveness.
D) melioration.

Question 36

In _____, the proportion of responses on the richer versus poorer schedules is _____ different than would be predicted by matching.

A) overmatching; more
B) undermatching; less
C) overmatching; less
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 37

A fox with a sore leg would likely show _____ when distributing its time between various patches of food.

A) matching
B) undermatching
C) overmatching
D) bias

Question 38

Conger and Killeen (1974) found that, during a social interaction with two confederates, the proportion of time that the subject looked toward one of the confederates _____ the proportion of verbal approvals received from that confederate.

A) approximately equaled
B) was significantly less than
C) was significantly more than
D) was unrelated to

Question 39

A changeover delay is the experimental equivalent of the time it takes for an animal

A) to travel between two patches of food.
B) to eat a meal.
C) to again feel hungry following a meal.
D) to establish a new steady-state pattern of behavior.

Question 40

Vollmer and Bourret's (2000) discovery that the proportion of two- versus three-point shots attempted by basketball players matches the proportion of points obtained from such shots suggests that shot-making in basketball is to some extent reinforced on a _____ schedule.

A) FR
B) VI
C) VT
D) DRH

Question 41

The tendency to meliorate means that for someone who is addicted to playing video games, doing so instead of finishing homework

A) will probably maximize overall reinforcement.
B) might result in a reduction in overall reinforcement.
C) might have no effect on overall reinforcement.
D) will eliminate any tendency to display matching.

Question 42

Evidence against the maximization theory of matching includes the fact that on concurrent VR VI schedules, pigeons show _____ responding on the _____.

A) exclusive; VR alternative
B) more; VI alternative than would be predicted by maximization theory
C) exclusive; VI alternative
D) more; VR alternative than would be predicted by maximization theory

Question 43

Robynne spends a lot of time hanging around the marketing department, an area that she finds quite interesting, and little time at her desk working. This distribution of behavior is consistent with the notion(s) of

A) matching.
B) melioration.
C) COD.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 44

Griffin spends most of his time studying the course that he enjoys studying rather than the one he needs to study. This is consistent with _____ theory of matching.

A) maximization
B) melioration
C) minimization
D) optimization

Question 45

Last year, Jacqueline had a psychology course and a physics course. She had more quizzes in the psychology courses and was earning better grades compared to the physics course. She devoted more than half of her study time to psychology last year. This year, she has another psychology course and another physics course.  This time she has more quizzes in physics, and her grade is also better in physics. She still spends more than half of her time studying for psychology. According to the matching law, this distribution of effort can be accounted for by _____.

A) self-control
B) COD
C) bias
D) optimization

Question 46

According to the matching law, in an experiment where a pigeon has to press colored keys to receive food, the percentage of responses emitted on a green key should have been 25% under one condition of the experiment and 55% under another condition of the experiment. The respective percentages were instead 35% and 70%. This is most likely an example of

A) bias.
B) COD.
C) melioration.
D) matching.

Question 47

In order to maximize overall reinforcement on a concurrent VI 20-sec VR 50 schedule, a pigeon should ideally respond

A) exclusively on the VR 50 component.
B) more on the VR 50 component than is predicted by matching.
C) more on the VI 20-sec component than is predicted by matching.
D) exclusively on the VI 20-sec component.

Question 48

According to the matching law, in an experiment where a pigeon has to press colored keys to receive food, the percentage of responses emitted on the green key should have been 65% when it was associated with the richer schedule and 15% when it was associated with the poorer schedule. The respective percentages were instead 55% and 10%. This is an example of

A) matching.
B) COD.
C) optimization.
D) bias.

Question 49

According to the matching law, in the context of the time it spent outside its own territory, a pied wagtail should have spent 30% of its time in a meadow when there were fewer insects and 70% of its time in the meadow when there were more insects. In reality, the respective percentages were 40% and 80%. What could account for this result?

A) More preferred insects in the meadow
B) More preferred insects in its territory
C) Short travel distance between the two food patches
D) Facing any kind of threat in the meadow

Question 50

On a concurrent VI 10-sec VR 100 schedule, _____ theory predicts that a pigeon would spend most of its time on the VR 100 schedule and switch over to the VI schedule approximately every 10 seconds. In contrast, _____ theory predicts that the pigeon will spend much more of its time on the VI schedule than is predicted by matching.

A) melioration; maximization
B) maximization; optimization
C) maximization; melioration
D) melioration; optimization

Question 51

From a behavioral perspective, the term willpower

A) is too often based on circular reasoning.
B) does not really explain anything.
C) is too often merely a description of a certain behavior pattern.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 52

One problem with the tendency to meliorate is that

A) too much of something can result in habituation.
B) too much of something can result in sensitization.
C) it does not provide the desired reinforcements.
D) it focuses only on delayed consequences but not on immediate ones.

Question 53

The tendency to meliorate means that our behavior might sometimes be too strongly directed toward alternatives that provide

A) a lot of reinforcement for little effort.
B) relatively immediate reinforcement.
C) relatively delayed reinforcement.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 54

David loves to go to baseball games. He inherits a substantial amount of money and because of this he is able to quit his job and do whatever he wants. Given that he has a tendency to meliorate, David will most likely

A) attend baseball games as often as possible.
B) eventually come to like baseball even more than before.
C) eventually come to like baseball less than before.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 55

Greediness probably involves _____.

A) matching
B) COD
C) overmatching
D) melioration

Question 56

One day, Kylie provides 80% of the verbal reinforcers during a group conversation and Justin directs 95% of his comments toward her. The next day, Kylie provides only 10% of the verbal reinforcers. Yet, Justin directs 70% of his comments toward her. Justin's behavior is an example of

A) bias.
B) melioration.
C) self-control.
D) commitment.

Question 57

According to melioration theory, an organism shifts its behavior toward higher value alternatives

A) such that matching rarely occurs.
B) so as to maximize the effect on the overall level of reinforcement.
C) without regard to the effect on the overall level of reinforcement.
D) except under extreme deprivation.

Question 58

Melioration can reduce overall reinforcement due to

A) responding too much on alternatives that do not require it.
B) overconsumption of and habituation to highly valued reinforcers.
C) responding too much on alternatives that provide immediate reinforcement.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 59

According to _____ theory, an organism will shift its behavior toward higher value alternatives without regard to the effect on the overall level of reinforcement.

A) melioration
B) melioration
C) maximization
D) delay reduction

Question 60

On a concurrent VI 30-sec VR 200 schedule, a pigeon will likely spend more time on the _____ alternative, which provides evidence of _____.

A) VR 200; melioration
B) VR 200; maximization
C) VI 30-sec; melioration
D) VI 30-sec; maximization

Question 61

To add extra incentive to exercise, Heather publicly announces to her friends that, starting this Monday, she is going to start running each morning. From Skinner's perspective, running is the _____ response, while the announcement is the _____ response.

A) controlling; controlled
B) controlled; controlling
C) direct; indirect
D) indirect; direct

Question 62

The major problem students face when attempting to use watching television as a self-reinforcer for studying is that

A) they feel that their freedom is being restricted.
B) they may deliver the reinforcer without performing the behavior.
C) they fail too often to deliver the reinforcer.
D) they become habituated to the act of studying.

Question 63

Natalia decides to reinforce exercising with one hour of television after each exercise session. The major problem with this tactic is that

A) she may refuse to exercise, yet still watch television.
B) she may begin to exercise too stringently.
C) the reinforcer will undermine her intrinsic interest in exercise.
D) she could end up not wanting to watch any television.

Question 64

Problems with using self-punishment to control your own behavior include that

A) there is nothing to stop you from short-circuiting the contingency.
B) self-punishment punishes not only the behavior but also the act of carrying through on your promise to punish yourself.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Question 65

From a behavioral perspective, self-control is an issue involving

A) willpower.
B) conflicting outcomes.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Question 66

The major problem with self-reinforcement is that

A) the contingency may be short-circuited.
B) the reinforcers tend to undermine intrinsic motivation.
C) it simply cannot work as a tactic for self-control.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 67

Skinner's tactics for self-control include

A) self-punishment.
B) doing something else.
C) self-reinforcement.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 68

Skinner's tactics for self-control include

A) physical restraint.
B) satiating oneself.
C) depriving oneself.
D) All of these are correct.

Question 69

Self-reinforcement:

A) is almost never effective in the real world.
B) does seem to be effective for at least some people.
C) is more effective for males than females.
D) is more effective for females than males.

Question 70

By eating a full meal before going grocery shopping, Susan was able to ensure that she did not buy junk food. Eating a full meal is the _____, while the types of groceries she bought is the _____.

A) controlled response; controlling response
B) controlling response; controlled response
C) extrinsic response; intrinsic response
D) intrinsic response; extrinsic response

Question 71

Suppose you avoid visiting the bakery to stop yourself from buying cake. So, you end up buying fruit instead. Not visiting the bakery is a _____ response and the subsequent buying of fruit is a _____ response.

A) controlling; controlled
B) extraneous; intrinsic
C) intrinsic; extraneous
D) controlled; controlling

Question 72

According to Rachlin, how does self-reinforcement help to promote a desired behavior?

A) It makes an accomplishment more salient.
B) It facilitates concentration on a task.
C) It functions as a primary reinforcer.
D) It maintains intrinsic interest in a task.

Question 73

Traditional explanations of self-control by using the term "willpower"

A) too often merely describe the behavior they are intended to explain.
B) have generally been well-supported in experimental investigations.
C) form the basis for most behavioral explanations of self-control.
D) Both b and c are correct.

Question 74

A possible reason why self-reinforcement is sometimes effective is that:

A) it can increase the salience of our successes.
B) It can decrease the salience of our successes.
C) it can produce a positive contrast effect.
D) it can reduce a negative contrast effect.

Question 75

Dennis decides to cut down on smoking by delivering a punisher to himself in the form of performing 20 pushups for every cigarette smoked. The major problem with this tactic is that Dennis

A) will probably become even more addicted to smoking.
B) can still smoke and not do the pushups.
C) is likely to become addicted to pushups.
D) will probably still smoke without doing the pushups.

Question 76

"Naomi has a lot of willpower. I know this because she is disciplined in getting her homework done." From a behavioral viewpoint, this explanation

A) does not really explain anything.
B) is based on circular reasoning.
C) Both a and b are correct.
D) Neither a nor b is correct.

Question 77

The major problem with the use of self-punishment is that one may

A) perform the forbidden behavior and not deliver the punisher.
B) short-circuit the contingency.
C) suffer too much stress.
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 78

Elise wants to stop shopping online. In order to help control her own behavior, she cancels her Internet service. Cancelling the Internet service is an example of

A) physical restraint.
B) a controlled response.
C) a controlling response.
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 79

Which of the following is a useful technique to facilitate the purchase of healthy foods?

A) Satiating oneself prior to buying groceries at the supermarket
B) Depriving oneself prior to buying groceries at the supermarket
C) Satiating oneself after buying unhealthy groceries at the supermarket
D) Both a and c are correct.

Question 80

Skinner viewed self-control as involving two types of responses, a _____ response and a(n) _____ response.

A) contingent; noncontingent
B) continuous; intermittent
C) controlled; controlling
D) contingent; controlled