PSYC 365 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS & VERIFIED
ANSWERS
The texbooks's perspective regarding various theories of learning is that: - Answers -
There is currently no "right" theory, but one will eventually be developed.
Which one of the following statements provides the most credible explanation for the
fact that human beings seem to surpass all other animal species in their thinking and
learning capacities? - Answers - Human beings have a huge repertoire of instinctual
behaviors from which they can draw when they encounter new experiences.
Human beings undoubtedly learn more during the course of a lifetime than any other
species on earth. The major result of this capacity to learn is that: - Answers - Humans
can benefit from their experiences
Three of the following are principles of learning. Which one is a theory of learning rather
than a principle? - Answers - People learn by making mental associations between new
information and their existing knowledge.
According to the textbook, which one of the following conclusions is most warranted
from research on brain development? - Answers - Classroom experiences can
significantly enhance people's cognitive development throughout the elementary,
secondary, and post-secondary school years
Which one of the following best describes the growth of neurons during the prenatal
period? - Answers - An overabundance of neurons emerges early in prenatal
development, but about half of the neurons die before birth.
Given what psychologists believe to be true about how information is typically stored in
the brain, how is the concept dog probably represented in your brain? - Answers - As a
network of neurons spread across multiple brain regions
A mother has been paying her daughter Melissa one dollar an hour to shovel snow off
the driveway. At the end of January, the mother raises the rate to two dollars an hour.
Based on research related to contrast effects, we can predict that Melissa will probably:
- Answers - Shovel more snow than if the pay for shoveling snow had always been two
dollars an hour
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two learning paradigms within the
behaviorist tradition. A major difference between these two paradigms is that: - Answers
- Classically conditioned responses are elicited by specific stimuli, whereas responses
learned through operant conditioning are voluntary.
, When Rochelle has an on-the-road lesson as part of her driver education class, she
fails to stop at a school crossing zone, as is required by law. Her instructor has her drive
around the block several times and stop each time at the crossing zone. He also insists
that, once she has stopped, she must wait at least eight seconds before proceeding.
The instructor's strategy illustrates the use of _______ as a way of bringing about
behavior change. - Answers - Positive-practice overcorrection
Which one of the following statements best describes the view of early behaviorists
about how learning can best be studied? - Answers - The study of learning will be more
objective and scientific if only observable events are considered.
Mr. Richards gives his class fifteen minutes of free time whenever at least 95% of the
class gets a passing grade on a test. Mr. Richards is using: - Answers - A group
contingency
Three of the following are recommended practices when using punishment to reduce an
inappropriate behavior. Which one is not recommended? - Answers - Punish frequently
to get the point across
Some researchers have studied the effects of modeling on moral reasoning and
behavior. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?
- Answers - People's beliefs about "right" and "wrong" are primarily a function of the
behaviors their parents have reinforced
Which one of the following is the clearest example of a child working for an incentive? -
Answers - Doris is studying for a history test with the hope that she'll get an A on it
Tammy has trouble getting dates, so she begins to observe how other students attract
boys. The four girls below have all had a date within the last week. Without knowing
anything about Tammy, but using criteria proposed by social cognitive theorists, choose
the girl whom Tammy is most likely to model - Answers - Dorinda is popular and
feminine
Trudy makes an obscene gesture in class, and the teacher punishes her severely.
Other students in class observe both the gesture and the punishment. Based on social
cognitive theory, what can we guess about what those students have learned and how
they are likely to behave in the future? - Answers - They know how to make the gesture,
but they are unlikely to make it in class
Three of the following alternatives depict situations in which a teacher is facilitating the
retention component of modeling. Which one does not depict such a situation? -
Answers - Mr. Byers suggests, "Let's play some background music while I show you
how to use the dipstick to measure your oil level."
Which one of the following is the best example of a symbolic model? - Answers - A
detective on a television show
ANSWERS
The texbooks's perspective regarding various theories of learning is that: - Answers -
There is currently no "right" theory, but one will eventually be developed.
Which one of the following statements provides the most credible explanation for the
fact that human beings seem to surpass all other animal species in their thinking and
learning capacities? - Answers - Human beings have a huge repertoire of instinctual
behaviors from which they can draw when they encounter new experiences.
Human beings undoubtedly learn more during the course of a lifetime than any other
species on earth. The major result of this capacity to learn is that: - Answers - Humans
can benefit from their experiences
Three of the following are principles of learning. Which one is a theory of learning rather
than a principle? - Answers - People learn by making mental associations between new
information and their existing knowledge.
According to the textbook, which one of the following conclusions is most warranted
from research on brain development? - Answers - Classroom experiences can
significantly enhance people's cognitive development throughout the elementary,
secondary, and post-secondary school years
Which one of the following best describes the growth of neurons during the prenatal
period? - Answers - An overabundance of neurons emerges early in prenatal
development, but about half of the neurons die before birth.
Given what psychologists believe to be true about how information is typically stored in
the brain, how is the concept dog probably represented in your brain? - Answers - As a
network of neurons spread across multiple brain regions
A mother has been paying her daughter Melissa one dollar an hour to shovel snow off
the driveway. At the end of January, the mother raises the rate to two dollars an hour.
Based on research related to contrast effects, we can predict that Melissa will probably:
- Answers - Shovel more snow than if the pay for shoveling snow had always been two
dollars an hour
Classical conditioning and operant conditioning are two learning paradigms within the
behaviorist tradition. A major difference between these two paradigms is that: - Answers
- Classically conditioned responses are elicited by specific stimuli, whereas responses
learned through operant conditioning are voluntary.
, When Rochelle has an on-the-road lesson as part of her driver education class, she
fails to stop at a school crossing zone, as is required by law. Her instructor has her drive
around the block several times and stop each time at the crossing zone. He also insists
that, once she has stopped, she must wait at least eight seconds before proceeding.
The instructor's strategy illustrates the use of _______ as a way of bringing about
behavior change. - Answers - Positive-practice overcorrection
Which one of the following statements best describes the view of early behaviorists
about how learning can best be studied? - Answers - The study of learning will be more
objective and scientific if only observable events are considered.
Mr. Richards gives his class fifteen minutes of free time whenever at least 95% of the
class gets a passing grade on a test. Mr. Richards is using: - Answers - A group
contingency
Three of the following are recommended practices when using punishment to reduce an
inappropriate behavior. Which one is not recommended? - Answers - Punish frequently
to get the point across
Some researchers have studied the effects of modeling on moral reasoning and
behavior. Which one of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from their research?
- Answers - People's beliefs about "right" and "wrong" are primarily a function of the
behaviors their parents have reinforced
Which one of the following is the clearest example of a child working for an incentive? -
Answers - Doris is studying for a history test with the hope that she'll get an A on it
Tammy has trouble getting dates, so she begins to observe how other students attract
boys. The four girls below have all had a date within the last week. Without knowing
anything about Tammy, but using criteria proposed by social cognitive theorists, choose
the girl whom Tammy is most likely to model - Answers - Dorinda is popular and
feminine
Trudy makes an obscene gesture in class, and the teacher punishes her severely.
Other students in class observe both the gesture and the punishment. Based on social
cognitive theory, what can we guess about what those students have learned and how
they are likely to behave in the future? - Answers - They know how to make the gesture,
but they are unlikely to make it in class
Three of the following alternatives depict situations in which a teacher is facilitating the
retention component of modeling. Which one does not depict such a situation? -
Answers - Mr. Byers suggests, "Let's play some background music while I show you
how to use the dipstick to measure your oil level."
Which one of the following is the best example of a symbolic model? - Answers - A
detective on a television show
