1. What is operant conditioning primarily focused on?
- The association between two stimuli
- The consequences of behavior on future actions
- The natural reflexes triggered by a specific stimulus
- The innate behaviors displayed by an organism
B.F. Skinner and Operant Conditioning: Exam on Behavioral Theories MCQs
Test your knowledge of B.F. Skinner's Operant Conditioning theory with our Behavioral Theories exam. Explore reinforcement, punishment and key concepts in behavior modification.
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2. Who is considered the pioneer of operant conditioning?
- Ivan Pavlov
- John B. Watson
- B.F. Skinner
- Edward Thorndike
3. What is the purpose of reinforcement in operant conditioning?
- To reduce the occurrence of a behavior
- To increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again
- To neutralize the effects of punishment
- To eliminate conditioned responses
4. Which of the following is an example of positive reinforcement?
- Taking away a toy to stop bad behavior
- Giving a child a cookie for completing their homework
- Scolding a student for being late
- Ignoring a child's tantrum
5. What is negative reinforcement?
- Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease behavior
- Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior
- Punishing a behavior to reduce its frequency
- Ignoring a behavior to extinguish it
6. Which of these is an example of a primary reinforcer?
- Money
- Praise
- Food
- A certificate
7. What distinguishes a primary reinforcer from a secondary reinforcer?
- Primary reinforcers have intrinsic value, while secondary reinforcers derive value through association
- Primary reinforcers are conditioned, while secondary reinforcers are natural
- Primary reinforcers are punishments, while secondary reinforcers are rewards
- Secondary reinforcers are used for negative reinforcement only
8. Which schedule of reinforcement is most resistant to extinction?
- Fixed interval
- Fixed ratio
- Variable interval
- Variable ratio
9. What is a fixed ratio schedule?
- Reinforcement occurs after a fixed time period
- Reinforcement occurs after a specific number of responses
- Reinforcement occurs randomly after responses
- Reinforcement is based on the intensity of the response
10. In operant conditioning, what is shaping?
- Gradually reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior
- Punishing undesirable behaviors to shape better habits
- Pairing a neutral stimulus with a response
- Reinforcing random behaviors in an organism
11. What is the primary goal of punishment in operant conditioning?
- To reinforce conditioned responses
- To increase the likelihood of a behavior recurring
- To decrease the likelihood of a behavior recurring
- To establish a new behavior
12. What does "extinction" refer to in operant conditioning?
- The gradual reduction of a conditioned response due to lack of reinforcement
- The complete removal of reinforcement schedules
- The pairing of a neutral stimulus with a conditioned stimulus
- The immediate disappearance of a behavior
13. What is a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?
- A stimulus that signals the availability of reinforcement
- A stimulus that triggers reflexive responses
- A stimulus that extinguishes a conditioned behavior
- A stimulus that is unrelated to reinforcement
14. Which is an example of a variable interval schedule?
- Reinforcing a behavior every 10 minutes
- Reinforcing a behavior at unpredictable time intervals
- Reinforcing a behavior every third response
- Reinforcing a behavior only after a set period
15. What is the Skinner Box?
- A device used to study classical conditioning
- An apparatus designed to study operant conditioning in animals
- A psychological theory about reinforcement schedules
- A method for shaping human behavior
16. In operant conditioning, what is a token economy?
- A system where tokens are used as secondary reinforcers to exchange for rewards
- A method of pairing primary reinforcers with conditioned responses
- A type of punishment used to modify behavior
- A financial system based on reinforcement schedules
17. Which of the following is NOT a type of reinforcement schedule?
- Continuous
- Fixed ratio
- Randomized
- Variable interval
18. What does the term "superstitious behavior" mean in operant conditioning?
- Behavior that occurs because it was accidentally reinforced
- Behavior that is deliberately reinforced
- Behavior shaped through punishment
- Behavior unrelated to reinforcement
19. What is the law of effect in operant conditioning?
- All behaviors have an equal chance of being reinforced
- Behaviors followed by punishment are likely to increase
- Behaviors are solely determined by external stimuli
- Behaviors followed by favorable outcomes are more likely to be repeated
20. What is the difference between reinforcement and punishment?
- Reinforcement increases behavior, while punishment decreases behavior
- Reinforcement decreases behavior, while punishment increases behavior
- Reinforcement is used in classical conditioning and punishment is used in operant conditioning
- Both are used to extinguish unwanted behaviors
21. Which behavior is an example of operant conditioning?
- A dog salivating at the sound of a bell
- A student studying harder after receiving praise for good grades
- A child crying when they hear thunder
- A person feeling anxious when seeing a hospital
22. What is a negative punishment?
- Removing a pleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
- Adding an unpleasant stimulus to decrease a behavior
- Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase behavior
- Adding a pleasant stimulus to increase behavior
23. What is the purpose of a reinforcement schedule?
- To ensure consistent punishment
- To determine how often a behavior will be reinforced
- To establish new behaviors without extinction
- To eliminate unwanted behaviors
24. What is the primary feature of a variable ratio schedule of reinforcement?
- Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses
- Reinforcement is provided at unpredictable intervals of time
- Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses
- Reinforcement is given after every response
25. Which of the following best describes a secondary reinforcer?
- A reinforcer that satisfies a basic biological need
- A reinforcer that gains value through association with a primary reinforcer
- A reinforcer that is used only in variable schedules
- A reinforcer that eliminates undesirable behaviors
26. Which of the following is an example of shaping in operant conditioning?
- A teacher rewards a student for each step toward solving a math problem
- A dog salivates when it hears the sound of a bell
- A child avoids touching a hot stove after being burned once
- A person feels anxious when seeing a dentist's chair
27. What is the primary purpose of a discriminative stimulus in operant conditioning?
- To trigger a natural reflex
- To signal the availability of reinforcement for a specific behavior
- To neutralize the effects of punishment
- To create conditioned responses
28. What does "extinction burst" refer to in operant conditioning?
- The complete disappearance of a behavior
- The reduction of behavior due to punishment
- The sudden reinforcement of a previously extinguished behavior
- A temporary increase in the frequency of a behavior during the extinction process
29. What is the main advantage of continuous reinforcement?
- It is highly resistant to extinction
- It quickly establishes new behaviors
- It works best for complex behaviors
- It prevents superstitious behavior
30. What does a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement involve?
- Reinforcement occurs after a fixed number of responses
- Reinforcement is provided after a specific amount of time has passed
- Reinforcement occurs randomly at unpredictable intervals
- Reinforcement is given immediately after every response