EAB Exam 1 Questions With Complete
Solutions
Be able to (a) identify the different compound
schedules outlined in the compound schedules
matrix and (b) relate them to applied research
designs. Correct Answers 1. Chained: (a) 2
schedules completed successively using different
stimuli resulting in a reinforcer (b) potty training
(has to occur in certain steps)
2. Tandem: (a) 2 schedules completed successively
using the same stimulus resulting in a reinforcer
(b) having ingredients but not a recipe and
completing the steps in a way that might not be
the same as the recipe specifies (behaviors still
occur in an order, but ANY order, compared to
chained where they occur in a certain order)
3. Mutiple: (a) 2+ alternating schedules of
reinforcement, with different stimuli for each
respective schedule, reinforcer earned after
completing each (b) in class, kid has to get 12/20
correct on math table to get credit, but with tutor,
kid has to get 17/20 correct
4. Mixed: (a) 2+ alternating schedules of
reinforcement, with the same stimulus for each
respective schedule (b) kid might be reinforced for
eating spoonful of veggies, or 5 bites of veggies
5. Concurrent: (a) multiple schedules of
reinforcement at play in one environment at the
same time (b) telling a socially anxious kid he'll get
,either 30mins of video game time if he sits with
therapist at lunch table or 1hr of video game time
if he sits with peers at lunch table
Compare natural and intentional shaping to natural
and artificial selection? Is the process the same or
different? Explain. Correct Answers 1. Natural
shaping (target a behavior, something the
organism would do naturally/on their own, then use
something like autoshaping to train this behavior);
like natural selection, natural shaping behavior
would occur in the environment on its own
(potentially due to the needs of the organism)
2. Intentional shaping (reinforcing a behavior as
the organism gets closer and closer to the behavior
you want to see); like artificial selection, without a
human intervening, it's unlikely this behavior would
occur naturally
Compare the effects of conventional extinction and
removal of the response-reinforcer dependency in
the elimination of responding. Correct Answers 1.
Conventional extinction: removal of the
opportunity to produce the reinforcement (ex.
Shock-free period, leading to unavoidable shock),
responding then rapidly deteriorates (i.e. learned
helplessness)
2. Removal of the response reinforcer dependency:
Removal of the shock (negative reinforcer) is what
maintains responding, so if you take the shock out
,completely, animal will eventually realize it and will
stop responding (will probably take a bit longer)
Consider the observation that "responding was
maintained during extinction." In what sense is this
statement illogical? Under what circumstances
might such a statement be true? Correct Answers
To say that responding was maintained during
extinction goes against the functional definition of
extinction; if responding was maintained,
extinction did not occur; however, in the beginning
of most extinction processes, behavior increases
before it decreases, so it might make sense to say
"responding was maintained" if the entire
extinction process was not carried out (maybe also
related to maintaining behavior on a close-to-zero
rate like in schedule thinning)
Defend the position that the "cumbersome
patterns" of expression noted by Hineline (p. 71).
Correct Answers "Cumbersome patterns" of
expression allow for accuracy and precision when
communicating in EAB (ex. when conveying
research findings or the proposal of a theory,
important to use precise language so that
everyone is talking about/comprehending the same
thing)
, Define "contingency." Correct Answers The
conditions under which a response produces a
consequence
Define a negative reinforcer. What's the relation
between a negative reinforcer and a punisher?
Correct Answers 1. Removing a stimulus to
increase/maintain responding
2. Both negative reinforcers and punishers in
general put behavior under aversive control as
opposed to positive reinforcement that put
behaviors under "rewarding" control
Define an experiment. What is the relation
between the experiment and the variables
identified in the necessity types (necessary and
sufficient, necessary but not sufficient, sufficient
but not necessary, and neither necessary nor
sufficient)? Correct Answers A systematic way of
studying behavior; in order to studying behavior
systematically, you need to have some sort of
functional relationship between your IV and DV
(ideally necessary and sufficient)
Define ontogeny and ontogenic variables. Correct
Answers 1. The organism's lifetime past, defines
and shapes those interactions. Gives function to
behavior
Solutions
Be able to (a) identify the different compound
schedules outlined in the compound schedules
matrix and (b) relate them to applied research
designs. Correct Answers 1. Chained: (a) 2
schedules completed successively using different
stimuli resulting in a reinforcer (b) potty training
(has to occur in certain steps)
2. Tandem: (a) 2 schedules completed successively
using the same stimulus resulting in a reinforcer
(b) having ingredients but not a recipe and
completing the steps in a way that might not be
the same as the recipe specifies (behaviors still
occur in an order, but ANY order, compared to
chained where they occur in a certain order)
3. Mutiple: (a) 2+ alternating schedules of
reinforcement, with different stimuli for each
respective schedule, reinforcer earned after
completing each (b) in class, kid has to get 12/20
correct on math table to get credit, but with tutor,
kid has to get 17/20 correct
4. Mixed: (a) 2+ alternating schedules of
reinforcement, with the same stimulus for each
respective schedule (b) kid might be reinforced for
eating spoonful of veggies, or 5 bites of veggies
5. Concurrent: (a) multiple schedules of
reinforcement at play in one environment at the
same time (b) telling a socially anxious kid he'll get
,either 30mins of video game time if he sits with
therapist at lunch table or 1hr of video game time
if he sits with peers at lunch table
Compare natural and intentional shaping to natural
and artificial selection? Is the process the same or
different? Explain. Correct Answers 1. Natural
shaping (target a behavior, something the
organism would do naturally/on their own, then use
something like autoshaping to train this behavior);
like natural selection, natural shaping behavior
would occur in the environment on its own
(potentially due to the needs of the organism)
2. Intentional shaping (reinforcing a behavior as
the organism gets closer and closer to the behavior
you want to see); like artificial selection, without a
human intervening, it's unlikely this behavior would
occur naturally
Compare the effects of conventional extinction and
removal of the response-reinforcer dependency in
the elimination of responding. Correct Answers 1.
Conventional extinction: removal of the
opportunity to produce the reinforcement (ex.
Shock-free period, leading to unavoidable shock),
responding then rapidly deteriorates (i.e. learned
helplessness)
2. Removal of the response reinforcer dependency:
Removal of the shock (negative reinforcer) is what
maintains responding, so if you take the shock out
,completely, animal will eventually realize it and will
stop responding (will probably take a bit longer)
Consider the observation that "responding was
maintained during extinction." In what sense is this
statement illogical? Under what circumstances
might such a statement be true? Correct Answers
To say that responding was maintained during
extinction goes against the functional definition of
extinction; if responding was maintained,
extinction did not occur; however, in the beginning
of most extinction processes, behavior increases
before it decreases, so it might make sense to say
"responding was maintained" if the entire
extinction process was not carried out (maybe also
related to maintaining behavior on a close-to-zero
rate like in schedule thinning)
Defend the position that the "cumbersome
patterns" of expression noted by Hineline (p. 71).
Correct Answers "Cumbersome patterns" of
expression allow for accuracy and precision when
communicating in EAB (ex. when conveying
research findings or the proposal of a theory,
important to use precise language so that
everyone is talking about/comprehending the same
thing)
, Define "contingency." Correct Answers The
conditions under which a response produces a
consequence
Define a negative reinforcer. What's the relation
between a negative reinforcer and a punisher?
Correct Answers 1. Removing a stimulus to
increase/maintain responding
2. Both negative reinforcers and punishers in
general put behavior under aversive control as
opposed to positive reinforcement that put
behaviors under "rewarding" control
Define an experiment. What is the relation
between the experiment and the variables
identified in the necessity types (necessary and
sufficient, necessary but not sufficient, sufficient
but not necessary, and neither necessary nor
sufficient)? Correct Answers A systematic way of
studying behavior; in order to studying behavior
systematically, you need to have some sort of
functional relationship between your IV and DV
(ideally necessary and sufficient)
Define ontogeny and ontogenic variables. Correct
Answers 1. The organism's lifetime past, defines
and shapes those interactions. Gives function to
behavior
