Practice test for Learning.
Note: These questions are part of a larger data base of questions & are selected
to represent the type of question you should expect on exams. Exam questions,
however, may deal with topics not covered in the self tests or in lectures but are discussed in
your textbook. You are responsible for the content of your text book plus the content of
lectures, interactive activities, & material on the web site.
Use these sample questions to test yourself & to practice for the test.
1. Sheila almost got hit by a car at the street corner because she was too busy texting
on her phone. From that day on, Sheila looks before she reaches the street corner. Her
change in behavior is the result of
learning.
memory.
motivation.
both sensation and perception.
2. A relatively enduring change in behavior that results from previous experience with
certain stimuli & responses is the definition of
learning.
extinction.
imprinting.
generalization.
3. At home, you rattle the chain on your dog's leash every time you prepare to take him
for a walk. After several episodes like this, you find that your dog comes running to the front door
even when you pick up the leash to put it back in the closet. In this example, what is the
conditioned stimulus?
going for a walk
the sound of the leash
the front door
the dog runs to the door
4. Operant conditioning differs from classical conditioning in placing the emphasis on
waiting until the subject accidentally performs the right behavior.
pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned response.
allowing subjects to watch others perform some behavior.
consequences that follow some behavior.
5. A child has been classically conditioned to fear a white rat. If the child does not show
fear when shown a black rat, this is called
stimulus generalization.
stimulus discrimination.
spontaneous recovery.
extinction.
6. Unconditioned is to conditioned as _______ is to ________.
learned; reflex
reflex; learned
food; salivation
response; stimulus
7. During the cold winter, you have stopped taking your dog for walks. What's more, your dog
has gotten used to the fact that when you accidentally rattle his leash, he isn't going for a walk,
and subsequently he doesn't come running to the front door. What has occurred?
stimulus generalization
stimulus discrimination
spontaneous recovery
extinction
8. Robert is trying to remember the procedure used to establish classical conditioning. He would
be best to remember
CS, CR.
CS, UCS, UCR.
neutral stimulus, UCS, UCR.
CR, UCS, neutral stimulus.
9. Ronda had tartar sauce with her fish one night. The next morning she was nauseated and
sick for much of the day. The next time she was offered the chance to go out for fish she felt
queasy and declined. Her queasiness at the thought of fish with tartar sauce was probably
due to
higher-order conditioning.
a conditioned taste aversion.
stimulus substitution.
stimulus generalization.
10. In classical conditioning, generalization is adaptive because
dangerous UCS no longer trigger the UCR.
we learn that some behaviors lead to reinforcement.
the CR is capable of returning following a period of extinction.
we are able to respond to a stimulus that resembles the original CS.
11. Caitlin works in the psychology department's rat lab. In her studies, she found that
many of her lab rats would develop a conditioned taste aversion to certain foods after as
little as one trail. Caitlin's psychology professor refers to this as a classic example of
biological preparedness.
psychological preparedness.
instinctive drift.
stimulus substitution.
12. Stimulus Discrimination is to narrow as Stimulus Generalization is to ________.
broad
restrict
learned
reappearance
13. Blake finds that if he washes his car prior to going out on the town, more of his friends
want to ride along with him. What theory would best explain his willingness to always wash
and clean his car before going out?
Thorndike's law of effect
Skinner's theory of operant conditioning
Pavlov's theory of classical conditioning.
Kohler's insight learning theory
14. Law of effect is to ______ as operant conditioning is to _______.
Skinner; Rescorla
Tolman; Bandura
Thorndike; Skinner
Skinner; Thorndike
16. Reinforcement is to ___________, as punishment is to ___________.
decrease; increase
decrease; decrease
increase; decrease
operant conditioning; classical conditioning
17. Where do secondary reinforces get their power from?
Pavlov's classical conditioning
Thorndike's law of effect
Bandura's observational theory
Kohler's insight theory
18. Reinforcers, whether they be positive or negative, have the same effect on behavior,
which is to
decrease the probability that the behavior will be repeated.
increase the probability that the behavior will be repeated.
increase the probability that the behavior will be extinguished.
decrease the probability that the behavior will be spontaneously recovered.
19. Positive reinforcement results in a(an) __________ in the target behavior and negative
reinforcement result in an __________ in the target behavior.
an increase; a decrease
an increase; an increase
a decrease, a decrease
a decrease; an increase
20. Kurt & Kyle are out walking. Kurt says, Hey, Ive got a pebble in my shoe, and proceeds
to take off his shoe and to remove the pebble. That feels better, says Kurt. Kyle believes that
Kurts behavior of removing the pebble is a ____________ because it increases the chance
that Kurt will repeat the behavior if another pebble gets in his shoe.
positive punisher
positive reinforcer
negative reinforcer
unconditioned stimulus
21. Belinda has a terrible headache. If she takes some aspirin so as to make her headache
go away, this would be an example of
positive reinforcement.
negative reinforcement.
punishment.
generalization.
22. What refers to removing a reinforcing stimulus after a response that decreases the odds
that the response will recur?
Punishment
Latent punishment
Positive punishment
Negative punishment
23. Ben gets paid every 2 weeks. In one 2 week period he works a total of 20 hours.
During another 2 week period he works a total of 50 hours. Regardless of the total
number of hours he works each week, he is paid every 2 weeks. What schedule of
reinforcement is being used?
fixed ratio
variable ratio
fixed interval
variable interval
24. When is continuous reinforcement most appropriate?
only after the conditioning has taken place
when the behavior is an involuntary reflex
when the behavior is a voluntary response
in the initial stages of operant conditioning
25. Denise is grounded for coming home after curfew. Additionally her parents have taken
away her cell phone for a month. Losing her cell phone privileges is an example of
negative reinforcement.
punishment by application.
punishment by removal.
learned helplessness.
26. After a period of extinction, a temporary recovery in rate of responding is called
extinction.
generalization.
discrimination.
spontaneous performance.
27. What is the relationship between negative reinforcement and punishment?
Both tend to strengthen a response
Both tend to weaken a response
Negative reinforcement strengthens a response while punishment weakens a
response
Negative reinforcement weakens a response while punishment strengthens a
response
28. Which of the following theorists argued that learning can take place when someone is
watching another person and performs that behavior even when not reinforced?
B. F. Skinner
Albert Bandura
Edward Tolman
Wolfgang Koehler
29. Studies by Keller and Marian Breland found that many animals exhibit instinctive drift.
What does this mean?
The animals studied could not learn any skills even with the use of reinforcement.
The animals studied would learn skills through reinforcement but eventually
revert back to their genetically controlled pattern of behavior.
The animals studied would learn skills through reinforcement and they remained
that way no matter how much reinforcement they were given.
The animals studied could only learn skills similar to those found in the wild.
30. An important conclusion from the Bandura Bobo doll study is that
we create cognitive maps of dolls.
behavior can be modified by simply watching a live model.
behavior can be modified throughout negative punishment.
behavior can be modified by providing secondary reinforcers.
31. Jose was lying in bed when he suddenly realized how he might deal with a fast approaching
deadline at work. When his coworker asked how he came up with his idea, he said, "It just came
to be out of nowhere." Psychologists would refer to this as
latent learning
learned helplessness
insight learning
observational learning
32. I know and understand this material, says Rick. His instructor would agree with him. But
when it comes time to prove his understanding on the exam, he typically doesnt do well. This
exemplifies the idea of
shaping.
insight learning.
a lack of preparedness.
the learning-performance distinction.
33. Jody failed repeatedly in college algebra. Finally, she gave up and was seriously considering
dropping out of college. One day, her best friend offered to personally help her if she signed up for
college algebra again, but she refused. What concept might explain her reluctance?
latent learning
learned helplessness
insight learning
observational learning
34. The four processes necessary for observational learning are attention, memory, imitation,
and ___________.
motivation / desire
generalization
reinforcement
discrimination
35. What does AMID stand for?
Attention, Memory, Intention, Detention
Attention, Memory, Intention, Desire
Ask, Memory, Imitate, Develop
Attention, Memory, Intention, Desires
36. Ah ha! is to ______ as reinforcement is to _______.
preparedness; cognitive theory
imprinting; classical conditioning
insight learning; operant conditioning
spontaneous recovery; insight learning
37. Darla has noticed how some of her friends have lost weight and gotten trim by
exercising 1-2 hours each day. However, she has no plans to imitate their behavior.
What component of Bandura's model of observational learning will explain why Darla
has not started a similar weight loss program?
Darla's unconscious does not believe she can achieve the goal.
Darla is not motivated nor does she have the desire to begin the program.
Darla's self-esteem must first be addressed.
Darla's unwillingnes may be a sign of mental disorder.
38. A newsletter article has the headline, Scientists find innate tendency that helps
learning. You realize that the innate tendency refers to
behavioral factors.
biological factors.
cognitive factors.
environmental stimuli.
39. Spanking is an example of
negative reinforcement.
negative punishment.
positive punishment.
time-out.
40. With operant conditioning ___________ are important in forming an association, whereas
with classical conditioning __________ are important in forming an association.
consequences; antecedent stimuli
reflexes; rewards
conditional stimuli; reflexive stimuli
positive reinforcement; negative reinforcement
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Robert C. Gates