Question 1

Computer-assisted instruction CAI) has several advantages over noncomputer-based programmed instruction PI). Which one of the following is not an advantage of CAI over PI?

Accepted Answer

A)   CAI provides immediate reinforcement, whereas PI does not.
B)   CAI allows the use of videos and other moving graphics.
C)   CAI allows for the collection of data regarding the progress of each student.
D)   CAI is often found to be more effective than traditional instruction; PI is typically no more effective than traditional methods. A

Question 2

Practitioners who use applied behavior analysis to bring about behavior change in a student or client do not always rely solely on behaviorist principles; in many cases, they also incorporate cognitive elements into the strategies they employ. As examples of such cognitive behavior modification, they may use three of the following strategies. Which strategy is not likely to be part of cognitive behavior modification?

Accepted Answer

A)   They may give verbal guidance to help the learner execute desired behaviors effectively.
B)   They may model desired behaviors while the learner observes them doing so.
C)   They may ask the learner to think about various ways of solving a social problem and then identify the most effective response.
D)   They may have the learner read case studies about how other people have responded in similar problem situations. D

Question 3

Mr. and Mrs. Mercado don't allow their daughter Maggie to chew gum at home and have punished her severely on the few occasions they have found her with gum in her mouth. Now Maggie rarely chews gum at home but chews it almost constantly at school, where she is not punished for doing so. Maggie's different behaviors at home and at school illustrate an effect of punishment known as:

Accepted Answer

A)   emotional arousal
B)   reversal
C)   behavioral contrast
D)   restitution C

Question 4

The major advantage of using Bloom's taxonomy in developing objectives is that the taxonomy:

Accepted Answer

A)   Helps in the formulation of criteria for judging acceptable performance
B)   Encourages educators to address higher-level skills as well as factual knowledge
C)   Identifies an indisputable order in which various skills should be taught
D)   Specifies the most appropriate instructional method for every topic in the curriculum

Question 5

Three of the following are disadvantages of taxonomies and standards described in the textbook. Which of the following is not a disadvantage?

Accepted Answer

A)   They often do not incorporate developmental research, and therefore are not reliably sensitive to the skills of different age groups.
B)   They can miss goals that lie outside of a specific content area.
C)   They are often lengthy lists that are not realistic goals for a single school.
D)   They do not take into account students' different abilities.

Question 6

B. F. Skinner has criticized traditional educational practices for:

Accepted Answer

A)   Failing to teach students to work for delayed reinforcement
B)   Using concrete reinforcers more often than social reinforcers
C)   Using intrinsic reinforcers more often than concrete reinforcers
D)   Relying heavily on artificial reinforcement for mastery of classroom topics

Question 7

Research indicates that mastery learning approaches are superior to traditional instruction in several ways. Which one of the following conclusions should not be drawn on the basis of research on mastery learning?

Accepted Answer

A)   Academic achievement is higher in classrooms that emphasize mastery learning.
B)   High-ability students are the primary beneficiaries of mastery learning approaches.
C)   Students remember material for a longer period of time when taught with a mastery learning approach rather than with traditional instructional methods.
D)   Some forms of mastery learning e.g., Keller's PSI promote regular study habits rather than procrastination and cramming.

Question 8

Sean is a high school student who is angry much of the time. He often vents his anger by swearing at his teacher. One day his teacher decides to extinguish Sean's swearing by ignoring him whenever he swears. Yet over the next few weeks, Sean continues to swear as frequently as he always has. Three of the following are possible explanations as to why, from a behaviorist perspective, the teacher's "extinction" strategy is not working. Which alternative is the least likely explanation?

Accepted Answer

A)   Other students are reinforcing Sean's swearing.
B)   Sean's swearing has previously been reinforced on an intermittent basis.
C)   Swearing allows Sean to release pent-up anger, so he is being negatively reinforced.
D)   Sean is being reinforced for swearing by means of the Premack Principle.

Question 9

Describe at least three benefits of instructional objectives for teachers, students, or both. Also identify at least one downside of using instructional objectives to evaluate students' achievement, especially when used in conjunction with high-stakes tests.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Describe at least three benefits of instructional...

Question 10

Tracy enjoys reading mystery novels and reads at least two a week. Her mother wants to encourage Tracy's reading and so begins to pay her daughter one dollar for each completed mystery novel. Considering research regarding the extrinsic reinforcement of intrinsically reinforcing activities, we would expect Tracy eventually to:

Accepted Answer

A)   Double her rate of reading mystery novels
B)   Triple her rate of reading mystery novels
C)   Lower her rate of reading mystery novels
D)   Stop reading mystery novels altogether

Question 11

Which one of the following statements best characterizes how reinforcement of incompatible behavior can help reduce people's inappropriate behaviors?

Accepted Answer

A)   When we reinforce different people for different behaviors, they begin to discover which behaviors are appropriate and which are not.
B)   Negative reinforcement of an incompatible behavior can ultimately reduce the frequency of that behavior.
C)   An undesirable behavior will decrease when a person is reinforced for behaving in an opposite manner.
D)   We can reduce serious behavior problems by allowing people to engage in less serious misbehaviors.

Question 12

Develop a token economy for a classroom of unruly third-grade children. In your description, be sure to include and identify:
a. At least two target behaviors
b. The methods) of measuring the target behaviors
c. Token and back-up reinforcers, and how they are dispersed
d. The treatment plan

Accepted Answer

The answer of Develop a token economy for a classroom...

Question 13

Ms. Smythe keeps Eric after school whenever he swears in class. Even though Eric has been kept after school each day for the past three weeks, his swearing has increased rather than decreased. Given what we know about the effects of punishment on behavior, Ms. Smythe should probably conclude that:

Accepted Answer

A)   Her punishment is only temporarily suppressing Eric's swearing.
B)   The punishment is too severe.
C)   Eric's swearing will decrease eventually.
D)   Staying after school is not a punishment for Eric.

Question 14

Three of the following common criticisms of using behaviorist approaches in the classroom are valid ones. Which one usually is not true about behaviorist approaches?

Accepted Answer

A)   When a student who enjoys an activity is given extrinsic reinforcement for doing it, the student's intrinsic interest in the activity may decrease.
B)   If some misbehaviors are reduced through reinforcement or punishment, other misbehaviors will always spring up to replace them.
C)   Reinforcing a student simply for doing a task, without regard for the quality of performance, can encourage the student to do it quickly rather than well.
D)   When a student has cognitive deficits that interfere with performance, simply reinforcing desired behaviors will be insufficient to bring about important changes.

Question 15

Teachers and other practitioners must be very careful in their use of punishment as a means of changing behavior. Three of the following are potential disadvantages in using punishment. Which statement about punishment is false?

Accepted Answer

A)   Punished behaviors typically decrease slowly, if at all.
B)   Punishment can in some instances lead to increased aggression.
C)   Harsh psychological punishment can adversely affect emotional well-being.
D)   Punishment in the classroom can make students fearful of school and/or their teacher.

Question 16

Ms. Delahanty has several students who are chronic misbehavers. She meets individually with each student, and together the teacher and student agree to a plan for improving the student's behavior and a suitable reinforcement for appropriate behavior change. Ms. Delahanty is using:

Accepted Answer

A)   a contingency contract
B)   Keller's personalized system of instruction
C)   a token economy
D)   a group contingency

Question 17

Ms. Longman is using programmed instruction in teaching her geography class. Which one of the following are students least likely to encounter in their instruction?

Accepted Answer

A)   One-on-one interactions with their teacher
B)   A high probability of success when they respond
C)   Immediate feedback about the accuracy of their responses
D)   A series of frames, each of which presents a small amount of new information

Question 18

Healthier eating habits make people feel better and give them more energy over the long run. Yet many people do not improve their eating habits, especially if healthful foods are difficult and time-consuming to prepare. Three of the following are possible explanations for the lack of improvement i.e., behavior change) in people's eating habits. Judging from what you have learned about instrumental conditioning, choose the alternative that is not a likely explanation.

Accepted Answer

A)   Extrinsic reinforcers are usually more effective than intrinsic reinforcers.
B)   Eating junk food also has its reinforcers.
C)   From a cost-benefit perspective, change is not worthwhile.
D)   Reinforcement in the form of feeling healthier)  is delayed.

Question 19

Research indicates that when appropriate precautions are taken, the most effective method of reducing inappropriate behavior typically is:

Accepted Answer

A)   extinction
B)   punishment
C)   reinforcement of incompatible behaviors
D)   an intermittent schedule of reinforcement

Question 20

Which one of the following is the best illustration of synthesis within Bloom's taxonomy?

Accepted Answer

A)   Angela discovers fallacies in her teacher's argument regarding the value of an agricultural economy in Africa.
B)   Connie dissects an earthworm in order to examine its digestive system.
C)   Edgar uses a principle that he learned in physics to develop a new tool to lift a heavy object.
D)   Georgette writes a justification for corporal punishment using information from her sociology and psychology classes.

Exam 4: Applications of Behaviorist Principles

Computer-assisted instruction CAI) has several advantages over noncomputer-based programmed instruction PI) . Which one of the following is not an advantage of CAI over PI?