Deck 7: Schedules and Theories of Reinforcement

Question 1

Each time the dog scratches at the door, its owner lets it outside. In technical terms, this is an example of a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) intermittent
B) regular
C) constant
D) continuous

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A _____ is the response requirement that must be met in order to obtain reinforcement.

A) pattern of reinforcement
B) schedule effect
C) schedule of reinforcement
D) discriminative stimulus

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Occasionally is to always as a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement is to a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) variable; continuous
B) fixed; variable
C) variable; interval
D) intermittent; continuous

Answer 3

D

Question 4

When a rat is first exposed to a new schedule of reinforcement in an operant chamber, the behavior is initially _____ but becomes more _____ over time. The latter pattern is known as _____.

A) constant; variable; steady-state behavior
B) varied; stable; steady-state behavior
C) varied; stable; CRF
D) variable; constant; CRF

Question 5

On a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon

A) a fixed number of responses.
B) a fixed interval of time.
C) the first response after a fixed interval of time.
D) a single response.

Question 6

What type of schedule is most likely to produce the following pattern of behavior in a pigeon: 10 pecks, eat, 10 pecks, eat, 10 pecks, eat?

A) VR
B) VI
C) FR
D) FI

Question 7

The stable behavior patterns produced by considerable exposure to reinforcement schedules are known as

A) steady behaviors.
B) steady-state behaviors.
C) fixed-rate patterns.
D) fixed-state patterns.

Question 8

A _____ schedule generally produces a high rate of response, often accompanied by post-reinforcement pauses.

A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Question 9

Different response requirements of schedules can have different effects on behavior, which are known as _____.

A) goal gradient effects
B) schedules of reinforcement
C) schedule effects
D) schedule requirements

Question 10

A useful schedule of reinforcement to use when first shaping a new behavior is a(n) _____ schedule.

A) continuous
B) intermittent
C) FI
D) VT

Question 11

The letters CRF refer to a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) intermittent
B) continuous
C) contingent
D) contaminated

Question 12

Steady-state behaviors are produced when

A) the organism is highly familiar with the schedule of reinforcement.
B) the organism has been exposed to a VR schedule.
C) the organism has been exposed only to a CRF schedule.
D) the organism has been exposed to a non-contingent schedule.

Question 13

On a ____ schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon a certain, predictable number of responses.

A) variable interval
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) fixed ratio

Question 14

Rebecca finds that if she persistently pesters her mother to buy her a toy, she sometimes gets what she wants. Rebecca's pestering behavior is being reinforced on a(n) _____ schedule.

A) fixed interval
B) variable time
C) intermittent
D) continuous

Question 15

Each time a dog rolls over, it gets a treat. What the dog has to do in order to get fed is an example of a

A) goal gradient effect.
B) continuous schedule of reinforcement.
C) schedule effect.
D) partial reinforcement schedule.

Question 16

Number 9, your favorite lab rat, has to run 10 revolutions in the activity wheel in order to receive a pellet of food. The manner in which this contingency affects Number 9's behavior is an example of a

A) schedule effect.
B) schedule of reinforcement.
C) contingency of reinforcement.
D) three-term contingency.

Question 17

A schedule of reinforcement is the

A) pattern of behavior that results from a certain response requirement.
B) response requirement that must be met for the reinforcer to be delivered.
C) magnitude of reinforcement.
D) intensity of reinforcement.

Question 18

A CRF schedule can also be labeled as a(n) _____ schedule.

A) FI 1
B) VR 1
C) FR 1
D) FT 1

Question 19

A _____ schedule generally produces a high rate of response along with a short pause following the attainment of each reinforcer.

A) fixed ratio
B) steady-state
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Question 20

A _____ schedule of reinforcement is one in which each specified response is reinforced.

A) continuous
B) intermittent
C) noncontingent
D) steady

Question 21

Under which of the following schedule changes is behavior most likely to break down?

A) FR 1 to FR 3
B) FR 1 to FR 7
C) FR 50 to FR 57
D) FR 130 to FR 137

Question 22

Anson puts in very little work during his term at college. But at the end of the term, when the workload suddenly increases, he finds it difficult to study and sometimes suffers a breakdown. This seems to be an example of

A) response deprivation.
B) reinforcement noncontingency.
C) contingency burn-out.
D) ratio strain.

Question 23

Ratio strain is a disruption in responding due to

A) impulsiveness.
B) illness.
C) an overly demanding response requirement.
D) an overly monotonous schedule of reinforcement.

Question 24

On a _____ schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon an unpredictable number of responses.

A) variable ratio
B) variable interval
C) fixed ratio
D) fixed interval

Question 25

A disruption in responding due to an overly demanding response requirement is technically known as

A) ratio under duress.
B) ratio strain.
C) response strain.
D) response under duress.

Question 26

Suppose you are paid $5 for every 10 survey results you code into a computer program. This is an example of a _____ schedule.

A) variable interval
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) fixed ratio

Question 27

Ahmed finds that his teacher increases his math homework by 10 problems every alternate day. This is best described as an example of

A) ratio strain.
B) stretching the ratio.
C) a VR schedule.
D) an FR schedule.

Question 28

An FR 8 schedule of reinforcement is said to be _____ than an FR 60 schedule.

A) denser
B) richer
C) leaner
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 29

A FR 50 schedule of reinforcement is _____ than an FR 10 schedule.

A) less intermittent
B) denser
C) leaner
D) less time dependent

Question 30

A prime example of behavior maintained on a variable ratio schedule is

A) gambling.
B) teaching toddlers.
C) studying for exams.
D) working for a weekly salary.

Question 31

Susan complains that she is in an "addictive love relationship" in which she has to work very hard to get her partner to pay any attention to her. Chances are that her partner is reinforcing her on a _____ schedule.

A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed time
D) variable time

Question 32

On which of the following schedules would you expect to see a "break-and-run" pattern of responding?

A) FR 10
B) VR 10
C) VI 5-min
D) VR 5

Question 33

Most golfers do not sink the ball in the hole each time they putt. Thus, the behavior of putting is reinforced on a _____ schedule.

A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) fixed time

Question 34

A _____ schedule generally produces a high rate of response with little or no post-reinforcement pause.

A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Question 35

Which of the following schedules would produce the longest pause after each reinforcement?

A) FR 40
B) VR 30
C) VR 60
D) FR 10

Question 36

Horst desperately wanted to be a writer. At first, his publisher accepted 2 out of every 10 stories he sent. Then, she started to accept 2 out of every 25 that he sent. As a result, Horst stopped writing. Horst's behavior can be best understood to be an example of

A) extinction
B) ratio strain.
C) the goal gradient effect.
D) continuous reinforcement.

Question 37

Earning $10 for every five people you sign up to a new Internet sales club is an example of a _____ schedule.

A) variable ratio
B) fixed interval
C) fixed ratio
D) variable interval

Question 38

On FR schedules, post-reinforcement pauses

A) remain unchanged as one stretches out the ratio.
B) become shorter as one stretches out the ratio.
C) become longer as one stretches out the ratio.
D) tend not to occur.

Question 39

Responding on a(n) _____ schedule is most likely to eventually result in physical exhaustion.

A) FI
B) FR
C) VI
D) VR

Question 40

Over a period of a few weeks, Samuel changed from complying with each of his father's requests to complying with every other request, then every third request. The father's behavior of making requests has been subjected to a procedure known as

A) ratio strain.
B) stretching the ratio.
C) stretching the interval.
D) partialization.

Question 41

In general, _____ schedules produce higher rates of response than _____ schedules.

A) VI; VR
B) FI; VI
C) FR; FI
D) FR; FI

Question 42

On a(n) _____ type of schedule, the attainment of one reinforcer means that the next reinforcer is necessarily some distance away.

A) fixed
B) variable
C) interval
D) ratio

Question 43

A rat must press a lever continuously for 10 minutes to earn a pellet of food. This is an example of a _____ schedule.

A) fixed interval
B) fixed ratio
C) fixed duration
D) fixed time

Question 44

At the start of the term, many students engage in little or no studying. This is followed by a gradual increase in studying as the first exam approaches. This pattern of studying most closely approximates the response pattern produced by a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) fixed ratio
B) variable interval
C) variable ratio
D) fixed interval

Question 45

You find that by frequently switching radio stations in the morning, you occasionally catch an updated traffic report. Your behavior of switching stations is being reinforced on a _____ schedule.

A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable interval
D) variable ratio

Question 46

Suppose you are waiting for the 6 p.m. news on TV. Every so often, you take a quick glance at the clock to see if it is now 6 p.m. The frequency with which you look at the clock will most likely resemble the response pattern produced by a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) fixed ratio
B) variable ratio
C) fixed interval
D) variable interval

Question 47

On a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement, the reinforcer is delivered after

A) the first response during a fixed period of time.
B) a fixed period of time.
C) the first response following a fixed period of time.
D) a fixed number of responses during a set period of time.

Question 48

On a VI schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon _____ an unpredictable period of time.

A) not responding for
B) the first response following
C) the first response during
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 49

If you check your phone to see if you have text messages, you sometimes have one.  By checking your phone frequently, you will most certainly find a text message sometimes.  Which of the following schedules of reinforcement fits this example?

A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable interval
D) Variable ratio

Question 50

The most unpredictable romantic relationship would likely be one that is being maintained on a ____ schedule.

A) DRL
B) Variable ratio
C) Fixed ratio
D) Fixed time

Question 51

Which schedule of reinforcement produces a steady-state behavior that appears to be "scalloped"?

A) FR
B) VR
C) FI
D) VI

Question 52

Among the four basic intermittent schedules, fixed schedules are more likely to produce _____ than variable schedules, and ratio schedules are more likely to produce _____ than interval schedules.

A) higher rates of response; post-reinforcement pauses
B) lower rates of response; post-reinforcement pauses
C) post-reinforcement pauses; higher rates of response
D) post-reinforcement pauses; lower rates of response

Question 53

On a(n) _____ schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon the first response following an unpredictable period of time.

A) VI
B) VR
C) FI
D) FR

Question 54

A math teacher gives her students quizzes at random points in time throughout the term. This pattern of testing is most similar to a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) VI
B) FI
C) VR
D) FR

Question 55

In which of the following types of schedules is the response entirely response contingent?

A) Fixed schedules
B) Ratio schedules
C) Variable schedules
D) Interval schedules

Question 56

On a fixed interval schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon the first response _____ a fixed period of time.

A) during
B) following
C) preceding
D) Both a and b are correct.

Question 57

A _____ schedule produces a moderate, steady rate of response with little or no post-reinforcement pause.

A) fixed ratio
B) fixed interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable interval

Question 58

A pigeon must circle continuously for an average of 10 seconds in order to earn access to food. This is an example of a _____ schedule.

A) variable time
B) variable interval
C) variable ratio
D) variable duration

Question 59

In general, a VI schedule produces a _____ rate of response, often with _____ pause following the delivery of each reinforcer.

A) high; no
B) moderate; no
C) low; a long
D) scalloped; a long

Question 60

Which schedule produces a cumulative response pattern that is upwardly curved?

A) Fixed ratio
B) Fixed interval
C) Variable ratio
D) Variable interval

Question 61

The bus arrives sharp after every 30 minutes. This is most similar to a(n) _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) FT
B) FR
C) FI
D) DRL

Question 62

In a(n) _____ schedule, the reinforcer is delivered following a fixed, predictable period of time, regardless of the organism's behavior.

A) FR
B) FT
C) FI
D) VT

Question 63

When Battu is practicing playing the piano, his mother rewards him by occasionally giving him a hug. This is best described as an example of a _____ schedule.

A) VT
B) VI
C) VD
D) VR

Question 64

If Battu practices playing the piano for one hour without a break, his mother allows him to watch television. This is an example of an _____ schedule.

A) FD
B) FI
C) FT
D) FR

Question 65

David finds that the best way to conserve energy during a long bike trip is to pedal at a moderate but very steady pace. This is an example of a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) DRL
B) DRP
C) DRH
D) VI

Question 66

In what type of schedule does one reinforce the occurrence of an even, steady rate of response?

A) DRH
B) DRP
C) DRO
D) DRL

Question 67

Romeo finds that girls pay attention to him when he smiles but not when he burps. He now smiles a lot and rarely burps when girls are present. This is an example of the effect of

A) differential reinforcement.
B) differential discrimination.
C) response generalization.
D) a complex schedule.

Question 68

Birthday gifts are best described as examples of reinforcers that are received on a(n) _____ schedule.

A) VT
B) FT
C) FR
D) VR

Question 69

In a certain experiment, reinforcement is contingent upon each response being separated by at least a certain period of time. This sounds like a _____ schedule.

A) DRH
B) DRL
C) DRP
D) DRO

Question 70

A rat receives a food pellet if it emits 10 consecutive responses with each response separated by an interval of no less than 1.5 and no more than 2 seconds. This is an example of a _____ type of schedule.

A) DRH
B) DRL
C) DRP
D) DRO

Question 71

Reg, who once worked as a lumberjack, claims that to be effective at chopping wood with an axe, you have to work with a steady, easy rhythm. If you work too fast, you quickly tire yourself out and end up getting little done. Thus, Reg would reinforce his sons for chopping wood on a _____ schedule.

A) DRL
B) DRH
C) DRO
D) DRP

Question 72

On a noncontingent schedule of reinforcement, the reinforcer is delivered

A) following a noncontingent response.
B) following a response directed toward a noncontingent stimulus.
C) independently of any response.
D) following the first response after a certain period of time.

Question 73

  In speed skating, behavior is reinforced on a _____ schedule.

A) DRL
B) DRP
C) DRH
D) DRO

Question 74

DRH stands for

A) differential reinforcement of high rates of behavior.
B) differential responding for high rates reinforcement.
C) differential reinforcement of hourly responding.
D) decreased reinforcement of high rates of behavior.

Question 75

Superstitious behavior often develops as a function of exposure to a _____ schedule of reinforcement.

A) noncontingent
B) variable interval
C) fixed ratio
D) DRO

Question 76

In a hot dog eating contest, eating is being reinforced on a _____ schedule.

A) DRP
B) DRI
C) DRL
D) DRH

Question 77

To ensure that new apprentices work carefully, you would most likely use a _____ schedule of reinforcement in their early training.

A) DRH
B) DRO
C) DRA
D) DRL

Question 78

On a _____ schedule, reinforcement is contingent upon emitting at least a certain number of responses in a certain period of time.

A) DRH
B) DRL
C) DRP
D) DRA

Question 79

At least a minute must pass between each response before the reinforcer will be delivered. This sounds like an example of a _____ schedule.

A) DRH
B) DRL
C) DRP
D) DRA

Question 80

In a(n) _____ schedule the reinforcer is delivered on a noncontingent basis.

A) VT
B) FT
C) FI
D) Both and b are correct.