D566 Psychology of Learning: Task 1 - Classical & Operant
Conditioning - 100 Questions and Answers Already Graded A+
Premium Exam Tested And Verified
Subject Area Psychology of Learning
Description This exam assesses deep conceptual understanding of classical and operant
conditioning, including recent theoretical developments, neurobiological
substrates, and applied behavior analysis. Questions require synthesis of multiple
concepts, critical evaluation of experimental designs, and application to novel
scenarios.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 100
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Differentiate between classical and operant conditioning processes and identify
their neural mechanisms.
2. Analyze complex schedules of reinforcement and their effects on behavior.
3. Evaluate contemporary theories of associative learning against empirical
evidence.
4. Apply principles of conditioning to real-world settings such as education,
therapy, and animal training.
Accreditation This exam meets the rigor standards of top US R1 universities (e.g., Harvard,
Stanford).
Page 1
,1. In a differential outcomes procedure, pigeons are trained to peck a red key after a
tone and a green key after a white noise. Each correct response produces a unique
outcome: food for tone trials, water for noise trials. Later, the outcomes are reversed
such that tone now yields water and noise yields food. What is the most likely effect
on performance during the reversal phase?
A. Performance will immediately drop to chance levels because the unique outcomes
originally facilitated discrimination.
B. Performance will remain high because the stimuli continue to predict their respective
outcomes, even if outcomes are reversed.
C. Performance will show a gradual decline due to proactive interference from the original
associations.
D. Performance will improve because reversal increases the predictive value of the
outcomes.
Answer: B. Performance will remain high because the stimuli continue to predict
their respective outcomes, even if outcomes are reversed.
The differential outcomes effect relies on the fact that each stimulus predicts a specific
outcome; the outcome itself is not directly tied to the response. Reversing outcomes does
not disrupt the stimulus-outcome associations, so performance remains high. Option A
is incorrect because the unique outcomes still facilitate discrimination; option C is
incorrect because proactive interference is minimal as the outcomes are still
differential; option D is incorrect because reversal does not inherently improve
performance.
Page 2
,2. A researcher uses a conditioned suppression paradigm: rats are trained to lever
press for food on a variable-interval 60-second schedule. Then a 30-second tone (CS)
is paired with a brief footshock (US). After several pairings, the researcher measures
suppression ratios during the CS. Which manipulation would most likely produce a
suppression ratio close to 0.5?
A. Increasing the shock intensity to 1.5 mA.
B. Presenting the CS alone for 10 extinction trials before testing.
C. Pairing the CS with a weaker shock (0.3 mA) but increasing the number of pairings to 50.
D. Switching to a random-time 60-second schedule for food reinforcement.
Answer: B. Presenting the CS alone for 10 extinction trials before testing.
A suppression ratio of 0.5 indicates no suppression (i.e., no conditioned fear). Extinction
(CS-alone presentations) reduces the CS-US association, leading to recovery of lever
pressing. Option A would increase suppression (ratio near 0). Option C would still
produce strong conditioning despite weaker shock due to multiple pairings. Option D
might affect baseline but not directly reduce suppression.
3. In a study on sign-tracking vs. goal-tracking, a researcher presents a lever (CS)
that precedes delivery of a food pellet (US) into a magazine. Some rats approach and
contact the lever (sign-trackers), while others approach the magazine
(goal-trackers). Which of the following findings would provide the strongest evidence
that sign-tracking reflects a conditioned response mediated by the dopamine system?
A. Sign-trackers show higher dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during CS
presentation compared to goal-trackers.
B. Administration of a dopamine antagonist reduces lever pressing for food on a fixed-ratio
schedule.
C. Lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta abolish both sign-tracking and
goal-tracking.
D. Sign-trackers have larger amygdala volumes than goal-trackers.
Answer: A. Sign-trackers show higher dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
during CS presentation compared to goal-trackers.
The question asks for evidence that sign-tracking is a conditioned response mediated by
dopamine. Option A directly shows that sign-trackers have greater dopamine release in
the nucleus accumbens (a key reward region) during the CS, linking the behavior to
dopamine. Option B is about operant responding, not sign-tracking. Option C shows
necessity but not specificity. Option D is a correlational structural difference, not direct
evidence of dopamine mediation.
Page 3
, 4. A clinician is using differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) to
reduce self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a client. The functional analysis indicates that
SIB is maintained by escape from demands. Which of the following DRA
implementations is most likely to be effective?
A. Reinforce any behavior other than SIB with a preferred edible item on a fixed-ratio 1
schedule.
B. Reinforce compliance with demands by providing a 30-second break from tasks
contingent on compliance.
C. Reinforce the absence of SIB for 5 minutes with praise and attention.
D. Reinforce communication of a request for a break using a picture card, with the break
delivered immediately.
Answer: D. Reinforce communication of a request for a break using a picture card,
with the break delivered immediately.
Since SIB is maintained by escape, the alternative behavior should produce the same
reinforcer (escape). Functional communication training (FCT) teaches a communicative
response that yields escape, which is a form of DRA. Option A provides edible
reinforcement, not escape. Option B reinforces compliance, but the reinforcer is a
break; however, the alternative behavior is compliance, which may not be feasible
initially. Option D directly targets the function. Option C uses DRO (differential
reinforcement of other behavior) with attention, which does not address escape.
Page 4
Conditioning - 100 Questions and Answers Already Graded A+
Premium Exam Tested And Verified
Subject Area Psychology of Learning
Description This exam assesses deep conceptual understanding of classical and operant
conditioning, including recent theoretical developments, neurobiological
substrates, and applied behavior analysis. Questions require synthesis of multiple
concepts, critical evaluation of experimental designs, and application to novel
scenarios.
Expected Grade A+
Total Questions 100
Duration 3 hours
Learning Outcomes 1. Differentiate between classical and operant conditioning processes and identify
their neural mechanisms.
2. Analyze complex schedules of reinforcement and their effects on behavior.
3. Evaluate contemporary theories of associative learning against empirical
evidence.
4. Apply principles of conditioning to real-world settings such as education,
therapy, and animal training.
Accreditation This exam meets the rigor standards of top US R1 universities (e.g., Harvard,
Stanford).
Page 1
,1. In a differential outcomes procedure, pigeons are trained to peck a red key after a
tone and a green key after a white noise. Each correct response produces a unique
outcome: food for tone trials, water for noise trials. Later, the outcomes are reversed
such that tone now yields water and noise yields food. What is the most likely effect
on performance during the reversal phase?
A. Performance will immediately drop to chance levels because the unique outcomes
originally facilitated discrimination.
B. Performance will remain high because the stimuli continue to predict their respective
outcomes, even if outcomes are reversed.
C. Performance will show a gradual decline due to proactive interference from the original
associations.
D. Performance will improve because reversal increases the predictive value of the
outcomes.
Answer: B. Performance will remain high because the stimuli continue to predict
their respective outcomes, even if outcomes are reversed.
The differential outcomes effect relies on the fact that each stimulus predicts a specific
outcome; the outcome itself is not directly tied to the response. Reversing outcomes does
not disrupt the stimulus-outcome associations, so performance remains high. Option A
is incorrect because the unique outcomes still facilitate discrimination; option C is
incorrect because proactive interference is minimal as the outcomes are still
differential; option D is incorrect because reversal does not inherently improve
performance.
Page 2
,2. A researcher uses a conditioned suppression paradigm: rats are trained to lever
press for food on a variable-interval 60-second schedule. Then a 30-second tone (CS)
is paired with a brief footshock (US). After several pairings, the researcher measures
suppression ratios during the CS. Which manipulation would most likely produce a
suppression ratio close to 0.5?
A. Increasing the shock intensity to 1.5 mA.
B. Presenting the CS alone for 10 extinction trials before testing.
C. Pairing the CS with a weaker shock (0.3 mA) but increasing the number of pairings to 50.
D. Switching to a random-time 60-second schedule for food reinforcement.
Answer: B. Presenting the CS alone for 10 extinction trials before testing.
A suppression ratio of 0.5 indicates no suppression (i.e., no conditioned fear). Extinction
(CS-alone presentations) reduces the CS-US association, leading to recovery of lever
pressing. Option A would increase suppression (ratio near 0). Option C would still
produce strong conditioning despite weaker shock due to multiple pairings. Option D
might affect baseline but not directly reduce suppression.
3. In a study on sign-tracking vs. goal-tracking, a researcher presents a lever (CS)
that precedes delivery of a food pellet (US) into a magazine. Some rats approach and
contact the lever (sign-trackers), while others approach the magazine
(goal-trackers). Which of the following findings would provide the strongest evidence
that sign-tracking reflects a conditioned response mediated by the dopamine system?
A. Sign-trackers show higher dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens during CS
presentation compared to goal-trackers.
B. Administration of a dopamine antagonist reduces lever pressing for food on a fixed-ratio
schedule.
C. Lesions of the substantia nigra pars compacta abolish both sign-tracking and
goal-tracking.
D. Sign-trackers have larger amygdala volumes than goal-trackers.
Answer: A. Sign-trackers show higher dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens
during CS presentation compared to goal-trackers.
The question asks for evidence that sign-tracking is a conditioned response mediated by
dopamine. Option A directly shows that sign-trackers have greater dopamine release in
the nucleus accumbens (a key reward region) during the CS, linking the behavior to
dopamine. Option B is about operant responding, not sign-tracking. Option C shows
necessity but not specificity. Option D is a correlational structural difference, not direct
evidence of dopamine mediation.
Page 3
, 4. A clinician is using differential reinforcement of alternative behavior (DRA) to
reduce self-injurious behavior (SIB) in a client. The functional analysis indicates that
SIB is maintained by escape from demands. Which of the following DRA
implementations is most likely to be effective?
A. Reinforce any behavior other than SIB with a preferred edible item on a fixed-ratio 1
schedule.
B. Reinforce compliance with demands by providing a 30-second break from tasks
contingent on compliance.
C. Reinforce the absence of SIB for 5 minutes with praise and attention.
D. Reinforce communication of a request for a break using a picture card, with the break
delivered immediately.
Answer: D. Reinforce communication of a request for a break using a picture card,
with the break delivered immediately.
Since SIB is maintained by escape, the alternative behavior should produce the same
reinforcer (escape). Functional communication training (FCT) teaches a communicative
response that yields escape, which is a form of DRA. Option A provides edible
reinforcement, not escape. Option B reinforces compliance, but the reinforcer is a
break; however, the alternative behavior is compliance, which may not be feasible
initially. Option D directly targets the function. Option C uses DRO (differential
reinforcement of other behavior) with attention, which does not address escape.
Page 4
