Deck 6: Positive Reinforcement

Question 1

Suppose a child frequently throws temper tantrums in school. According to the text, what might this be a good example of?

A) the medical model
B) the effects of social reinforcers such as attention
C) passive aggression
D) borderline bulimia

Answer 1

B

Question 2

What's the greatest delay you can have between the response and the reinforcer in order for reinforcement to be effective?

A) 10 seconds
B) 60 seconds
C) 120 seconds
D) 240 seconds

Answer 2

B

Question 3

Though something is a reinforcer for one person, it might not be a reinforcer for another person.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

PoB shows that the best way to make sure you have a true reinforcer is to ask the person whose behavior you'll be trying to reinforce.

Question 5

The sight of the disruptive spectacle is probably the reinforcer for the people staring at Eric while he tantrums.

Question 6

The dead-man test applies to reinforcers.

Question 7

The text (PoB) uses response and behavior almost interchangeably.

Question 8

According to PoB, what's a likely positive reinforcer for classroom tantruming?

A) food
B) attention
C) escape from psychic stress

Question 9

According to the authors, tantrumming results from deep-seated feelings of insecurity.

Question 10

According to the principle of the delay gradient, the longer the person delays their response, the small the reinforcer you should give them

Question 11

It's starting to rain is contingent on your going outside

Question 12

Enriching the environment is NOT the best way to increase productive behavior.

Question 13

Which of the following is an example of a stimulus, event or condition that is not a reinforcer, but is helpful for your health?

A) Food
B) Caffeine
C) Vitamins
D) Smiles

Question 14

We show a child a set of toys to play with and note the one that he or she selects several times. What is this called?

A) Skill assessment
B) Reinforcer assessment
C) Toy test
D) Psychological assessment
E) Play test

Question 15

According to PoB, Jimmy's arm flapping, head rolling, eye squinting, and full-body rocking is probably a result of

A) A sensory processing disorders
B) Social mediated reinforcement
C) Automatic reinforcement
D) His high level of anxiety
E) Their calming effect

Question 16

Doubting Thomas gave Shy Shirley a raisin (Thomas' favorite food) every time Shirley said anything in their training session. But Shirley failed to become more talkative; she didn't even eat the raisins. So Thomas concluded that behavior analysis didn't work. What did Thomas fail to do?

A) Dead-man test
B) Check the assumed reinforcer
C) Task analysis
D) Anticipatory psychoanalysis
E) Extinction

Question 17

Suppose a child frequently throws temper tantrums in school. According to the text, what might this be a good example of?

A) the medical model
B) the effects of social reinforcers such as attention
C) passive aggression
D) borderline bulimia

Question 18

The reinforcer for the behavior of starring at Eric while he tantrums is the sight of the disruptive spectacle (the tantrums)

Question 19

The sleazy, middle-aged man pulled an envelope out of his pocket and slipped it into the hand of the tall, lean, young woman. Then he spoke without looking her in the eye and without removing the cigarette from the corner of his mouth. His left eyebrow twitched as he said, "The odds are 5 to 1 in favor of your team's winning the NCAA volleyball championship. Mr. Big has bet a lot of money on your team's losing. So here's $10,000 for you to throw the game." Is this a good example of reinforcement?

A) Absolutely.
B) Of course not!

Question 20

Would you believe it: it's possible to get a reluctant kid to have bowel movements by giving him bubblegum when he does!

Question 21

There is no relation between poverty and language skills?

Question 22

Failure of a reinforcement procedure to improve a kids language skill is strong evidence of a genetic deficit (in the kid, not the teacher).

Question 23

Rudolph presses the lever, because he wants some water.

Question 24

Rudolph presses the lever, because he thinks it will get him some water.

Question 25

Rudolph presses the lever, because he associates that response with water.

Question 26

What do we reinforce?

A) Behavior
B) The behaver
C) Self-confidence

Question 27

You can use the terms "reinforcer" and "reinforcement" interchangeably.

Question 28

In reinforcement, you deliver the reinforcer ____ the behavior.

A) Before
B) After

Question 29

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Check the assumed reinforcer first

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 30

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Automatic Reinforcement

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 31

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Socially mediated reinforcement

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 32

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Behavioral contingency

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 33

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Positive Reinforcer (reinforcer)

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 34

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ The don’t say rule

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 35

Match the following definitions with the terms below. (Not all of the terms will necessarily be used. In fact, some may be fictitious.)

-___ Reinforce behavior ...

A)Before spending much time trying to reinforce behavior, make sure you have a true reinforcer.
B)A stimulus that increases the frequency of a response it follows.
C)Another person (or organism) provides the reinforcer.
D)The response itself automatically produces the reinforcer.
E)Reinforce behavior not people.
F)With nonverbal organisms, expects, knows, thinks, figures out, in order to (or so that he, she, or it could), trying to, makes the connection, associates, learns that, imagines, understands and with any organisms, ... wants.
G)The occasion for a response, the response, and the outcome of the response.

Question 36

Fill in the Blank

-Positive Reinforcer (reinforcer)
$\bullet$ A stimulus
$\bullet$ that _____________________
$\bullet$ the _____________________
$\bullet$ of a response it follows

Question 37

Fill in the Blank

-Check the assumed reinforcer first
$\bullet$ Before spending much time trying to ___________________ behavior,
$\bullet$ make sure you have a _________________ _________________.

Question 38

Fill in the Blank

-Automatic reinforcement
$\bullet$ The __________________ itself automatically produces the _________________.

Question 39

Fill in the Blank

-Socially mediated reinforcement
$\bullet$ Another person (or organism) ____________________ the reinforcer.

Question 40

Fill in the Blank

-Behavioral contingency
$\bullet$ The ____________________ for a response,
$\bullet$ the _____________________, and
$\bullet$ the ___________________of the response

Question 41

Fill in the Blank

-The Don't Say Rule
$\bullet$ With nonverbal organisms, don't say,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ ,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ ,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ ,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ out,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ ________________________________ to,
$\bullet$ ________________________________to,
$\bullet$ ________________________________the ________________________________,
$\bullet$ _______________________________,
$\bullet$ ________________________________ that,
$\bullet$ _______________________________,
$\bullet$ _______________________________,
$\bullet$ and with any organisms, don't say ________________________________.

Question 42

Fill in the Blank

-Reinforce Behavior ...
$\bullet$ Reinforce behavior,
$\bullet$ not ___________________.

Question 43

Define the following concepts:
-Positive Reinforcer

Question 44

Define the following concepts:
-Check the assumed reinforcer first

Question 45

Define the following concepts:
-Automatic reinforcement

Question 46

Define the following concepts:
-Socially mediated reinforcement

Question 47

Define the following concepts:
-Behavioral contingency

Question 48

Define the following concepts:
-The Don't Say Rule

Question 49

Define the following concepts:
-Reinforce Behavior …

Question 50

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Positive Reinforcer (reinforcer)

Question 51

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Check the assumed reinforcer first

Question 52

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Automatic reinforcement

Question 53

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Socially mediated reinforcement

Question 54

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Behavioral contingency

Question 55

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-The Don't Say Rule

Question 56

Give a brief example of each of the following concepts:
-Reinforce Behavior …

Question 57

Give a classroom example of the way tantruming might result from social reinforcers. Notice that we say, might because we have not experimentally shown that social reinforcement is maintaining Eric's tantruming. So far, all we have is Mae's educated guess.

Question 58

Give an example of a stimulus that is helpful for your health and is also a reinforcer.

Question 59

Give an example of a stimulus that is helpful for your health but is not a reinforcer.

Question 60

Give an example of a stimulus that is harmful for your health but, unfortunately, is also a reinforcer.

Question 61

Give an example of something that is probably a reinforcer for some people and not for others.
a. And explain why.

Question 62

Give an example of where and how you should use the "check the reinforcer first" general rule.

Question 63

How would you be sure that the presumed reinforcer you're using is a true reinforcer?

Question 64

How can you tell if the teacher's points for reciting in class are reinforcers?

Question 65

Give an example of automatic reinforcement.

Question 66

Give an example of socially mediated reinforcement.

Question 67

Use positive reinforcement contingency correctly in a sentence.

Question 68

What is the principle of the delay gradient?

Question 69

Give an example of a behavioral contingency.

Question 70

Use some version of the verbal expression, to be contingent in a way that shows you understand how to use our terminology correctly.

Question 71

And also use some version of verbal expression, noncontingent or not contingent.

Question 72

Give an example of the general rule of environmental enrichment that illustrates the fallacy of its use.

Question 73

Give an example of the general rule of environmental enrichment that illustrates its proper use.

Question 74

Give two examples that at first glance might appear to be reinforcement but are not, because the apparent reinforcer comes before the response.

Question 75

Suppose you had a child with severe problems of bowel retention. How could you use the principle of positive reinforcement to help the child? Describe.
a. the behavior.
b. the contingency.
c. the reinforcer.
d. the expected results.

Question 76

How does poverty relate to?

A) Language skills and IQ scores?
B) Language skills and success in school?
C) Success in school and employment?
D) Employment and a halfway decent like for yourself?
E) Employment and a halfway decent life for your children, for your grandchild, and for your great-grandchildren?
(PS Your answer can be very brief!)

Question 77

After an initial failure to improve behavior with a reinforcement procedure, what should we not conclude about the person's genetic quality, intelligence, ability to learn, and ability to have behavior reinforced?

Question 78

What are the 12 verbs and expressions you shouldn't use with nonhumans animals and nonverbal human beings?
a. Give an example on how each of the 12 verbs in the don't say rule can be misused.
b. Give an example of how to say the same thing without using the 12 verbs in the don't say rule.

Question 79

What's the difference between reinforcer and reinforcement?
$\bullet$ Correctly use reinforcer and reinforcement in the same sentence.

Question 80

What's wrong with this statement? "When Rudolph presses the lever, immediately reinforce him with water."