, CHAPTER 1
PERSPECTIVES ON LEARNING
Multiple Choice Questions
Human beings undoubtedly learn more during the course
of a lifetime thanany other species on earth. The major
result of this capacity to learn is that:
New instincts begin to emerge.
Human thought becomes less logical with
each generation.Humans can benefit from
their experiences.
Humans are the only species whose behavior cannot
be analyzed interms of stimuli and responses.
Three of the following are examples of learning. Which one is not?
Abigail cries when she steps on a sharp pebble.
After many hours of heated debate, Brian
begins to advocatepolitical practices he has
previously opposed.
Cara suddenly recognizes how the division fact ―24 ’ 4
= 6‖ is related to the multiplication fact ―6 x 4 =
24.‖
David has been running away from German
shepherds ever since hewas bitten by a German
shepherd two years ago.
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, 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. Isthis an instance of
learning?
Yes, because her behavior has changed.
No, because the circumstances are too dissimilar.
Maybe, although the change may
simply be due tophysiological
maturation.
Maybe, but only if she is being reinforced for tracing accurately.
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, Chapter 1 – Perspectives on Learning
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?
Although it‘s a school night, Dean plays video games
until well past hisusual bedtime. As he becomes more
tired, he finds it increasingly difficult to concentrate on
what he‘s doing.
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.
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.
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.
research examines learning in tightly controlled settings and
research examines learning in real-world settings.
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