PSYC 365: BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION PRINCIPLES
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
1. A teacher notices that a student frequently calls out without raising their hand.
She decides to provide a small reward every time the student raises their hand
before speaking. What principle is she using?
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Punishment
D) Extinction
Answer: A) Positive reinforcement
Rationale: Providing a reward contingent on a desired behavior increases the
likelihood of that behavior.
2. A parent removes a chore from a child’s list for a week because the child
improved their homework habits. This is an example of:
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Positive punishment
D) Negative punishment
Answer: B) Negative reinforcement
Rationale: Negative reinforcement occurs when a stimulus is removed to increase
a behavior.
,3. Which schedule of reinforcement typically produces the highest rate of
responding with minimal pauses?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Variable ratio
C) Fixed interval
D) Variable interval
Answer: B) Variable ratio
Rationale: Variable ratio schedules create high, steady response rates because
reinforcement is unpredictable.
4. Tom is given a time-out each time he throws a toy. What is the main behavioral
effect expected?
A) Increase toy-throwing
B) Decrease toy-throwing
C) Increase positive social interaction
D) Increase aggression
Answer: B) Decrease toy-throwing
Rationale: Time-out is a form of negative punishment designed to reduce
undesirable behavior.
5. In shaping, a behavior is reinforced:
A) Only when it is performed perfectly
B) By successive approximations toward a target behavior
C) Randomly, to ensure unpredictability
D) Only after extinction has occurred
Answer: B) By successive approximations toward a target behavior
Rationale: Shaping involves reinforcing steps that gradually resemble the desired
behavior.
,6. Which of the following is an example of intrinsic motivation?
A) Studying to get an A on a test
B) Exercising because it feels good and energizes you
C) Working overtime for extra pay
D) Completing a task to avoid punishment
Answer: B) Exercising because it feels good and energizes you
Rationale: Intrinsic motivation comes from internal satisfaction rather than
external rewards or pressures.
7. John stops attending therapy sessions after realizing they no longer reduce his
anxiety. This decrease in behavior exemplifies:
A) Extinction
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Punishment
D) Spontaneous recovery
Answer: A) Extinction
Rationale: Extinction occurs when reinforcement is removed, and the behavior
gradually decreases.
8. Which type of reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
A) Continuous
B) Fixed ratio
C) Variable ratio
D) Fixed interval
Answer: C) Variable ratio
Rationale: Unpredictable reinforcement strengthens persistence, making behavior
more resistant to extinction.
, 9. A student fears speaking in class because they were laughed at previously. To
reduce this fear, the teacher gradually exposes the student to speaking tasks with
support. This technique is called:
A) Systematic desensitization
B) Shaping
C) Modeling
D) Time-out
Answer: A) Systematic desensitization
Rationale: Gradual exposure combined with relaxation reduces conditioned fear
responses.
10. Which principle is being applied when a dog is given a treat only after
performing a new trick correctly 3 times in a row?
A) Continuous reinforcement
B) Fixed ratio reinforcement
C) Variable interval reinforcement
D) Positive punishment
Answer: B) Fixed ratio reinforcement
Rationale: A fixed number of correct responses are required before reinforcement
is given.
11. Which is an example of a behavior maintained by negative reinforcement?
A) Taking aspirin to relieve a headache
B) Eating candy to enjoy its taste
C) Receiving praise for a report
D) Being fined for late fees
Answer: A) Taking aspirin to relieve a headache
Rationale: Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an aversive
stimulus (pain).
FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS AND 100% VERIFIED
ANSWERS WITH RATIONALES GRADED A+ LATEST
ATHABASCA UNIVERSITY
1. A teacher notices that a student frequently calls out without raising their hand.
She decides to provide a small reward every time the student raises their hand
before speaking. What principle is she using?
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Punishment
D) Extinction
Answer: A) Positive reinforcement
Rationale: Providing a reward contingent on a desired behavior increases the
likelihood of that behavior.
2. A parent removes a chore from a child’s list for a week because the child
improved their homework habits. This is an example of:
A) Positive reinforcement
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Positive punishment
D) Negative punishment
Answer: B) Negative reinforcement
Rationale: Negative reinforcement occurs when a stimulus is removed to increase
a behavior.
,3. Which schedule of reinforcement typically produces the highest rate of
responding with minimal pauses?
A) Fixed ratio
B) Variable ratio
C) Fixed interval
D) Variable interval
Answer: B) Variable ratio
Rationale: Variable ratio schedules create high, steady response rates because
reinforcement is unpredictable.
4. Tom is given a time-out each time he throws a toy. What is the main behavioral
effect expected?
A) Increase toy-throwing
B) Decrease toy-throwing
C) Increase positive social interaction
D) Increase aggression
Answer: B) Decrease toy-throwing
Rationale: Time-out is a form of negative punishment designed to reduce
undesirable behavior.
5. In shaping, a behavior is reinforced:
A) Only when it is performed perfectly
B) By successive approximations toward a target behavior
C) Randomly, to ensure unpredictability
D) Only after extinction has occurred
Answer: B) By successive approximations toward a target behavior
Rationale: Shaping involves reinforcing steps that gradually resemble the desired
behavior.
,6. Which of the following is an example of intrinsic motivation?
A) Studying to get an A on a test
B) Exercising because it feels good and energizes you
C) Working overtime for extra pay
D) Completing a task to avoid punishment
Answer: B) Exercising because it feels good and energizes you
Rationale: Intrinsic motivation comes from internal satisfaction rather than
external rewards or pressures.
7. John stops attending therapy sessions after realizing they no longer reduce his
anxiety. This decrease in behavior exemplifies:
A) Extinction
B) Negative reinforcement
C) Punishment
D) Spontaneous recovery
Answer: A) Extinction
Rationale: Extinction occurs when reinforcement is removed, and the behavior
gradually decreases.
8. Which type of reinforcement schedule is most resistant to extinction?
A) Continuous
B) Fixed ratio
C) Variable ratio
D) Fixed interval
Answer: C) Variable ratio
Rationale: Unpredictable reinforcement strengthens persistence, making behavior
more resistant to extinction.
, 9. A student fears speaking in class because they were laughed at previously. To
reduce this fear, the teacher gradually exposes the student to speaking tasks with
support. This technique is called:
A) Systematic desensitization
B) Shaping
C) Modeling
D) Time-out
Answer: A) Systematic desensitization
Rationale: Gradual exposure combined with relaxation reduces conditioned fear
responses.
10. Which principle is being applied when a dog is given a treat only after
performing a new trick correctly 3 times in a row?
A) Continuous reinforcement
B) Fixed ratio reinforcement
C) Variable interval reinforcement
D) Positive punishment
Answer: B) Fixed ratio reinforcement
Rationale: A fixed number of correct responses are required before reinforcement
is given.
11. Which is an example of a behavior maintained by negative reinforcement?
A) Taking aspirin to relieve a headache
B) Eating candy to enjoy its taste
C) Receiving praise for a report
D) Being fined for late fees
Answer: A) Taking aspirin to relieve a headache
Rationale: Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing an aversive
stimulus (pain).
