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Chapter 9 Multiple Choice Questions 1. One response occurred during the first minute, three during the second minute, and five during the third minute. The cumulative number of responses for the three-minute session is ____. a. three b. four c. five d. nine Answer: d. nine Rationale: The cumulative number of responses is the sum of responses across all three minutes. In the first minute, there was 1 response; in the second minute, there were 3 responses; and in the third minute, there were 5 responses. Adding these together gives a total of 1 + 3 + 5 = 9 responses. 2. Earning $10 for every five people you sign up to a new Internet sales club is an example of what kind of schedule? a. variable ratio b. fixed interval c. fixed ratio d. variable interval Answer: c. fixed ratio Rationale: In a fixed ratio schedule, reinforcement is delivered after a specific number of responses. In this example, reinforcement (earning $10) is contingent upon signing up five people, indicating a fixed ratio of 5:1. 3. The prime example of behavior maintained on a variable ratio schedule is a. gambling. b. social interaction. c. studying for exams. d. working for a weekly salary. Answer: a. gambling. Rationale: Gambling involves behaviors (e.g., pulling a slot machine lever, buying lottery tickets) that are reinforced on a variable ratio schedule. The reward (winning) is unpredictable and occurs after an unpredictable number of responses, making it characteristic of a variable ratio schedule. 4. On a fixed interval schedule of reinforcement, the reinforcer is delivered after a. the first response during a fixed period of time. b. a fixed period of time. c. the first response following a fixed period of time. d. a fixed number of responses during a set period of time. Answer: c. the first response following a fixed period of time. Rationale: In a fixed interval schedule, reinforcement is delivered for the first response that occurs after a fixed amount of time has elapsed since the last reinforcement. This distinguishes it from other schedules where reinforcement is contingent upon the number of responses. 5. Among the four basic intermittent schedules, fixed schedules are more likely to produce ____ than variable schedules, and ratio schedules are more likely to produce ____ than interval schedules. a. higher rates of response; post-reinforcement pauses b. lower rates of response; post-reinforcement pauses c. post-reinforcement pauses; higher rates of response d. post-reinforcement pauses; lower rates of response Answer: c. post-reinforcement pauses; higher rates of response Rationale: Fixed schedules tend to produce post-reinforcement pauses, as the reinforcement is delivered predictably. Ratio schedules, on the other hand, tend to produce higher rates of response because reinforcement is contingent upon the number of responses rather than the passage of time. 6. On a cumulative response graph, the quickest way to determine the rate of responding is to look at ____. a. the length of pauses b. the number of post-reinforcement pauses c. the slope of the curve d. the highest data point Answer: c. the slope of the curve Rationale: The slope of the cumulative response graph represents the rate of responding. A steeper slope indicates a higher rate of response, while a flatter slope indicates a slower rate of response. 7. At least a minute must pass between each response before the reinforcer will be delivered. This sounds like an example of a ____ schedule. a. DRH b. DRL c. DRP d. DRA Answer: b. DRL Rationale: DRL stands for "differential reinforcement of low rates of responding." In a DRL schedule, reinforcement is delivered if a specified period of time passes between responses, discouraging high rates of responding. 8. The most important factor influencing resistance to extinction is the ____ of reinforcement prior to extinction. a. frequency b. schedule c. magnitude d. delay Answer: b. schedule Rationale: The schedule of reinforcement prior to extinction plays a crucial role in determining resistance to extinction. Continuous reinforcement schedules typically lead to faster extinction compared to intermittent schedules. 9. Reinforcement of any behavior other than the target behavior that is being extinguished is known as a. reinforcement of differential responding. b. differential reinforcement of other behavior. c. contingent alternative reinforcement. d. alternative contingent responding. Answer: b. differential reinforcement of other behavior. Rationale: Differential reinforcement of other behavior (DRO) involves reinforcing any behavior other than the target behavior that is being extinguished. This strategy aims to reduce the target behavior by reinforcing alternative behaviors. 10. An effective alternative to punishment as a procedure to reduce behavioral excesses is ____. a. extinction b. differential reinforcement of other behavior c. non-contingent reinforcement d. all of the above. Answer: d. all of the above. Rationale: Extinction, differential reinforcement of other behavior, and non-contingent reinforcement are all alternatives to punishment that can effectively reduce behavioral excesses. Each approach operates by modifying the consequences of behavior rather than applying punishment. Test Bank for Adaptive Learning and the Human Condition Jeffrey C. Levy 9780205950775
