1
, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
CHAPTER 1
PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING
Multiple Choice Questions
1. 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:
a. New instincts begin to emerge.
b. Human thought becomes less logical with each generation.
*c. Humans can benefit from their experiences.
d. Humans are the only species whose behavior cannot be analyzed in terms of
stimuli and responses.
2. Three of the following are examples of learning Which one is not?
*a. Abigail cries when she steps on a sharp pebble.
b. After many hours of heated debate, Brian begins to advocate political
practices he has previously opposed.
c. Cara suddenly recognizes how the division fact “24 ÷ 4 = 6” is related to the
multiplication fact “6 x 4 = 24.”
d. David has been running away from German shepherds ever since he was
bitten by a German shepherd two years ago.
3. Reynelda has trouble tracing a complex shape with a pencil when she is in
kindergarten, but she can do it quite well by the time she is in second grade. Is this
an instance of learning?
a. Yes, because her behavior has changed.
b. No, because the circumstances are too dissimilar.
*c. Maybe, although the change may simply be due to physiological maturation.
d. Maybe, but only if she is being reinforced for tracing accurately.
4. Three of the following characterize virtually all instances of human learning.
Which one is not necessarily an aspect of human learning?
a. Some sort of change occurs.
*b. Conscious thought is involved to some extent.
c. Whatever is acquired lasts longer than a few seconds.
d. Some sort of experience brings it about.
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, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
5. Three of the following illustrate various ways that learning might be reflected in a
person’s behavior. Which one of the following changes does not necessarily reflect
learning?
*a. Although it’s a school night, Dean plays video games until well past his usual
bedtime. As he becomes more tired, he finds it increasingly difficult to
concentrate on what he’s doing.
b. Even as a young child, Jerry could tell you that his grandparents immigrated
to the United States from Ireland. But after a conversation with his
grandmother, he can now describe the circumstances of the family’s
immigration in considerable detail.
c. Day after day, Martin practices his basketball skills (shooting, dribbling, etc.)
on a basketball court at a local park. With each practice session, his
movements become faster and smoother.
d. Lewis occasionally asks for help when he has difficulty with his classwork,
but most of the time he just struggles quietly on his own. After his teacher
assures him that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or inability, he
begins asking for help much more frequently.
6. A principle of learning can best be characterized as:
a. A description of the results of a particular research study
*b. A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning
c. The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation
d. An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs
7. A theory of learning can best be characterized as:
a. A description of the results of a particular research study
b. A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning
c. The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation
*d. An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs
8. Three of the following are principles of learning. Which one is a theory of
learning rather than a principle?
a. A behavior that is followed by punishment decreases in frequency.
*b. People learn by making mental associations between new information and
their existing knowledge.
c. A response that is rewarded every time it occurs increases more rapidly than a
response that is only occasionally rewarded.
d. Students tend to remember more of a lecture if they take notes on the lecture’s
content.
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, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
9. Which one of the following common sayings best reflects the concept of
introspection?
a. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
b. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
*c. “A penny for your thoughts.”
d. “Old habits die hard.”
10. Which one of the following common sayings best reflects the basic premise
underlying social learning theory?
*a. “Monkey see, monkey do.”
b. “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
c. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
d. “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
11. 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?
a. Only human beings have the capability to make tools.
*b. Humans communicate regularly with one another and, in doing so, pass along
what they’ve learned to future generations.
c. Human beings have a huge repertoire of instinctual behaviors from which
they can draw when they encounter new experiences.
d. Human brains are smaller than those of other intelligent species (e.g.,
elephants, dolphins) and therefore can transmit messages more quickly and
efficiently.
12. Behaviorists and cognitivists tend to focus on different aspects of learning. Which
one of the following statements best describes this difference?
a. Behaviorism focuses on temporary changes; cognitivism focuses on relatively
permanent changes.
b. Behaviorism focuses on relatively permanent changes; cognitivism focuses on
temporary changes.
c. Behaviorism focuses on internal mental changes; cognitivism focuses on
external behavioral changes.
*d. Behaviorism focuses on external behavioral changes; cognitivism focuses on
internal mental changes.
4
, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
CHAPTER 1
PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING
Multiple Choice Questions
1. 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:
a. New instincts begin to emerge.
b. Human thought becomes less logical with each generation.
*c. Humans can benefit from their experiences.
d. Humans are the only species whose behavior cannot be analyzed in terms of
stimuli and responses.
2. Three of the following are examples of learning Which one is not?
*a. Abigail cries when she steps on a sharp pebble.
b. After many hours of heated debate, Brian begins to advocate political
practices he has previously opposed.
c. Cara suddenly recognizes how the division fact “24 ÷ 4 = 6” is related to the
multiplication fact “6 x 4 = 24.”
d. David has been running away from German shepherds ever since he was
bitten by a German shepherd two years ago.
3. Reynelda has trouble tracing a complex shape with a pencil when she is in
kindergarten, but she can do it quite well by the time she is in second grade. Is this
an instance of learning?
a. Yes, because her behavior has changed.
b. No, because the circumstances are too dissimilar.
*c. Maybe, although the change may simply be due to physiological maturation.
d. Maybe, but only if she is being reinforced for tracing accurately.
4. Three of the following characterize virtually all instances of human learning.
Which one is not necessarily an aspect of human learning?
a. Some sort of change occurs.
*b. Conscious thought is involved to some extent.
c. Whatever is acquired lasts longer than a few seconds.
d. Some sort of experience brings it about.
2
, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
5. Three of the following illustrate various ways that learning might be reflected in a
person’s behavior. Which one of the following changes does not necessarily reflect
learning?
*a. Although it’s a school night, Dean plays video games until well past his usual
bedtime. As he becomes more tired, he finds it increasingly difficult to
concentrate on what he’s doing.
b. Even as a young child, Jerry could tell you that his grandparents immigrated
to the United States from Ireland. But after a conversation with his
grandmother, he can now describe the circumstances of the family’s
immigration in considerable detail.
c. Day after day, Martin practices his basketball skills (shooting, dribbling, etc.)
on a basketball court at a local park. With each practice session, his
movements become faster and smoother.
d. Lewis occasionally asks for help when he has difficulty with his classwork,
but most of the time he just struggles quietly on his own. After his teacher
assures him that asking for help is not a sign of weakness or inability, he
begins asking for help much more frequently.
6. A principle of learning can best be characterized as:
a. A description of the results of a particular research study
*b. A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning
c. The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation
d. An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs
7. A theory of learning can best be characterized as:
a. A description of the results of a particular research study
b. A statement that describes how a particular factor affects learning
c. The measurement of how much learning has occurred in a particular situation
*d. An explanation of the underlying processes through which learning occurs
8. Three of the following are principles of learning. Which one is a theory of
learning rather than a principle?
a. A behavior that is followed by punishment decreases in frequency.
*b. People learn by making mental associations between new information and
their existing knowledge.
c. A response that is rewarded every time it occurs increases more rapidly than a
response that is only occasionally rewarded.
d. Students tend to remember more of a lecture if they take notes on the lecture’s
content.
3
, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
9. Which one of the following common sayings best reflects the concept of
introspection?
a. “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
b. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”
*c. “A penny for your thoughts.”
d. “Old habits die hard.”
10. Which one of the following common sayings best reflects the basic premise
underlying social learning theory?
*a. “Monkey see, monkey do.”
b. “Spare the rod and spoil the child.”
c. “A friend in need is a friend indeed.”
d. “A rolling stone gathers no moss.”
11. 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?
a. Only human beings have the capability to make tools.
*b. Humans communicate regularly with one another and, in doing so, pass along
what they’ve learned to future generations.
c. Human beings have a huge repertoire of instinctual behaviors from which
they can draw when they encounter new experiences.
d. Human brains are smaller than those of other intelligent species (e.g.,
elephants, dolphins) and therefore can transmit messages more quickly and
efficiently.
12. Behaviorists and cognitivists tend to focus on different aspects of learning. Which
one of the following statements best describes this difference?
a. Behaviorism focuses on temporary changes; cognitivism focuses on relatively
permanent changes.
b. Behaviorism focuses on relatively permanent changes; cognitivism focuses on
temporary changes.
c. Behaviorism focuses on internal mental changes; cognitivism focuses on
external behavioral changes.
*d. Behaviorism focuses on external behavioral changes; cognitivism focuses on
internal mental changes.
4
