PSY 659 Midterm Study Guide Exam With
Correct Solutions
Based on multiple verified PSY 659 midterm exam sources, the
course focuses on behavioral psychology, including classical
and operant conditioning, reinforcement schedules, behavior
modification, and research methodology. The following
practice questions cover all major topics with detailed rationales.
Question 1
Behavioral momentum refers to:
A. The speed of behavior change
B. The resistance of behavior to change
C. The force of behavior
D. The frequency of behavior
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Behavioral momentum refers to the resistance of a behavior to
change when environmental conditions are altered. Behaviors with a history
of high rates of reinforcement are more resistant to change, similar to how a
moving object with greater mass has more momentum .
Question 2
The matching law describes:
,A. How reinforcement schedules match behavior
B. How the proportion of responses on each alternative matches the
proportion of reinforcement on that alternative
C. How punishment matches behavior
D. How extinction matches behavior
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: The matching law states that organisms allocate their behavior
among different response alternatives in proportion to the reinforcement
available on each alternative. For example, if one response option provides
70% of reinforcement, the organism will emit approximately 70% of their
responses on that option .
Question 3
An establishing operation (EO) is an event that:
A. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
B. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
C. Signals that reinforcement is available
D. Signals that reinforcement is not available
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: An establishing operation (EO) is a motivating operation that
increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. For example, food deprivation
increases the effectiveness of food as a reinforcer, making behaviors that
produce food more likely to occur .
Question 4
An abolishing operation (AO) is an event that:
,A. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
B. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
C. Signals that reinforcement is available
D. Signals that reinforcement is not available
*Correct Answer: A. *
Rationale: An abolishing operation (AO) is a motivating operation that
decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. For example, consuming a large
meal decreases the effectiveness of food as a reinforcer, making behaviors
that produce food less likely to occur .
Question 5
Behavioral contrast occurs when:
A. Two behaviors are reinforced equally
B. A change in reinforcement in one context leads to a change in
behavior in another context
C. Reinforcement is withheld
D. Punishment is delivered
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Behavioral contrast occurs when a change in reinforcement in one
context leads to a change in behavior in another context. For example, if
reinforcement for a behavior is decreased in one setting, the behavior may
increase in another setting where reinforcement is still available (positive
contrast) .
Question 6
Positive behavioral contrast occurs when:
, A. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
B. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
C. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
D. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Positive behavioral contrast occurs when a decrease in
reinforcement in one context leads to an increase in behavior in another
context. For example, if a child's behavior is no longer reinforced at home, the
behavior may increase at school where reinforcement is still available .
Question 7
Negative behavioral contrast occurs when:
A. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
B. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
C. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
D. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
*Correct Answer: C. *
Rationale: Negative behavioral contrast occurs when an increase in
reinforcement in one context leads to a decrease in behavior in another
context. For example, if a child's behavior is reinforced more at home, the
behavior may decrease at school where reinforcement is less available .
Correct Solutions
Based on multiple verified PSY 659 midterm exam sources, the
course focuses on behavioral psychology, including classical
and operant conditioning, reinforcement schedules, behavior
modification, and research methodology. The following
practice questions cover all major topics with detailed rationales.
Question 1
Behavioral momentum refers to:
A. The speed of behavior change
B. The resistance of behavior to change
C. The force of behavior
D. The frequency of behavior
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Behavioral momentum refers to the resistance of a behavior to
change when environmental conditions are altered. Behaviors with a history
of high rates of reinforcement are more resistant to change, similar to how a
moving object with greater mass has more momentum .
Question 2
The matching law describes:
,A. How reinforcement schedules match behavior
B. How the proportion of responses on each alternative matches the
proportion of reinforcement on that alternative
C. How punishment matches behavior
D. How extinction matches behavior
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: The matching law states that organisms allocate their behavior
among different response alternatives in proportion to the reinforcement
available on each alternative. For example, if one response option provides
70% of reinforcement, the organism will emit approximately 70% of their
responses on that option .
Question 3
An establishing operation (EO) is an event that:
A. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
B. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
C. Signals that reinforcement is available
D. Signals that reinforcement is not available
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: An establishing operation (EO) is a motivating operation that
increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. For example, food deprivation
increases the effectiveness of food as a reinforcer, making behaviors that
produce food more likely to occur .
Question 4
An abolishing operation (AO) is an event that:
,A. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
B. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer
C. Signals that reinforcement is available
D. Signals that reinforcement is not available
*Correct Answer: A. *
Rationale: An abolishing operation (AO) is a motivating operation that
decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. For example, consuming a large
meal decreases the effectiveness of food as a reinforcer, making behaviors
that produce food less likely to occur .
Question 5
Behavioral contrast occurs when:
A. Two behaviors are reinforced equally
B. A change in reinforcement in one context leads to a change in
behavior in another context
C. Reinforcement is withheld
D. Punishment is delivered
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Behavioral contrast occurs when a change in reinforcement in one
context leads to a change in behavior in another context. For example, if
reinforcement for a behavior is decreased in one setting, the behavior may
increase in another setting where reinforcement is still available (positive
contrast) .
Question 6
Positive behavioral contrast occurs when:
, A. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
B. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
C. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
D. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
*Correct Answer: B. *
Rationale: Positive behavioral contrast occurs when a decrease in
reinforcement in one context leads to an increase in behavior in another
context. For example, if a child's behavior is no longer reinforced at home, the
behavior may increase at school where reinforcement is still available .
Question 7
Negative behavioral contrast occurs when:
A. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
B. Reinforcement is decreased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
C. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior decreases in
another setting
D. Reinforcement is increased in one setting and behavior increases in
another setting
*Correct Answer: C. *
Rationale: Negative behavioral contrast occurs when an increase in
reinforcement in one context leads to a decrease in behavior in another
context. For example, if a child's behavior is reinforced more at home, the
behavior may decrease at school where reinforcement is less available .
