Behavioral Psychology Fundamentals: Quiz on Classical and Operant Conditioning
Test your understanding of core behaviorism theories with our Behavioral Psychology MCQ exam. Learn about key principles, influential psychologists and real-world applications.
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1. What is an example of "positive reinforcement" in operant conditioning?
Ignoring an undesirable behavior
Removing an unpleasant stimulus after a desired behavior occurs
Giving a reward after a desired behavior occurs
Punishing a behavior to decrease its occurrence
2. Which of the following is an example of "extinction" in classical conditioning?
A conditioned response decreases when the conditioned stimulus is no longer paired with the unconditioned stimulus
A new stimulus is introduced to provoke a new response
A conditioned response becomes stronger with more reinforcement
An unconditioned stimulus is replaced with a neutral stimulus
3. What is "shaping" in operant conditioning?
Conditioning an animal to react to a conditioned stimulus
Reinforcing closer approximations of the desired behavior
Using punishment to decrease undesirable behavior
Reinforcing an undesirable behavior at random intervals
4. What does the term "generalization" refer to in classical conditioning?
The process of associating a new stimulus with the unconditioned stimulus
The tendency for a conditioned response to occur with similar stimuli
The reinforcement of a desired behavior
The elimination of a conditioned response
5. Which of the following best describes "punishment" in operant conditioning?
Adding a stimulus to decrease a behavior
Removing a stimulus to increase a behavior
Adding a stimulus to reinforce behavior
Removing a stimulus to reinforce behavior
6. Which type of reinforcement schedule produces a high and steady rate of response?
Fixed ratio
Variable ratio
Fixed interval
Variable interval
7. Which of the following is an example of a "fixed-interval schedule" in operant conditioning?
Reinforcing a behavior after a set number of responses
Reinforcing a behavior at random intervals
Reinforcing a behavior after a random number of responses
Reinforcing a behavior after a fixed time period
8. What is an example of "vicarious reinforcement" in observational learning?
A child learns a behavior by watching others being rewarded for it
A child learns by receiving direct rewards for their own behavior
A child repeats a behavior because it is reinforced by others
A child learns through trial and error
9. What is the "Premack Principle"?
The idea that a more probable behavior can be used to reinforce a less probable behavior
The concept of reinforcing a behavior every time it occurs
The principle that behavior is only learned through observation
The belief that punishment is the most effective way to change behavior
10. What is "spontaneous recovery" in classical conditioning?
The reappearance of a conditioned response after a period of extinction
The process of associating a new stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
The reinforcement of an extinguished behavior
The generalization of a conditioned response to new stimuli
11. What does "observational learning" involve in behavioral psychology?
Learning through direct reinforcement of behavior
Learning by watching and imitating the behavior of others
Learning by associating stimuli with responses
Learning by practicing behavior repeatedly
12. Which of the following is a key component of operant conditioning?
Reflexive responses to stimuli
The use of rewards and punishments to shape behavior
Pairing a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus
Conditioned responses to environmental cues
13. Which term describes when an organism stops responding to a stimulus that is no longer paired with reinforcement?
Generalization
Extinction
Spontaneous recovery
Shaping
14. Who is the psychologist associated with the concept of "behaviorism" in psychology?
Sigmund Freud
Carl Rogers
B.F. Skinner
Abraham Maslow
15. Which of the following is a characteristic of operant conditioning?
Behavior is controlled by the pairing of stimuli
Behavior is shaped by reinforcement or punishment
Behavior occurs automatically in response to stimuli
Behavior is the result of innate instincts
16. Who is most closely associated with the theory of operant conditioning?
Ivan Pavlov
Albert Bandura
B.F. Skinner
John B. Watson
17. What is "behavior modification"?
The process of using conditioning to change maladaptive behaviors
The process of reinforcing desired behavior only
The process of using observation to learn new behaviors
The process of removing maladaptive responses
18. What is the role of "reinforcement" in operant conditioning?
To encourage the repetition of a behavior
To stop the occurrence of an undesirable behavior
To eliminate a conditioned response
To introduce new stimuli to provoke a response
19. In classical conditioning, the "conditioned stimulus" is:
The stimulus that naturally and automatically triggers a response
The learned stimulus that evokes a conditioned response
The response that occurs naturally in reaction to an unconditioned stimulus
The behavior that is reinforced through rewards
20. In Pavlov’s experiment, what was the unconditioned stimulus?
The sound of the bell
The food presented to the dogs
The salivation response
The bell ringing after conditioning
21. In Skinner's operant conditioning experiments, what was used to reinforce the behavior of rats?
A loud sound
A food pellet
A shock to the skin
A conditioned response
22. In Pavlov's experiment, what was the conditioned response?
The dog's salivation in response to the food
The dog’s salivation in response to the bell sound
The dog’s response to the neutral stimulus
The dog’s fear of the bell sound
23. In operant conditioning, what does "fixed ratio" refer to?
Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses
Reinforcement is given after a fixed time period
Reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses
Reinforcement is provided after random intervals
24. What is the main difference between classical and operant conditioning?