Learning Approaches Quiz

What is classical conditioning?

• Learning by observing other

• Learning by association

• Learning by rewards

• None of these

Answer explanation

Classical conditioning is learning by association. This includes pairing two stimuli together.

In Pavlov's experiment, the food was what before conditioning?

• Unconditioned response

• Neutral stimulus

• Unconditioned stimulus

• Conditioned stimulus

Answer explanation

The food was the 'unconditioned stimulus' which triggered involuntary response (salivation)

In Pavlov's experiment, the bell or sound of a metronome was what?

• Neutral stimulus

• Unconditioned stimulus

• Conditioned stimulus

• Conditioned response

Answer explanation

The bell or metronome was first the 'neutral stimulus' as it provoked no response from the dog. It then became the 'conditioned stimulus' after being paired with the food 'unconditioned stimulus'.

Name one or more evaluation point(s) for classical conditioning

Answer explanation

Practical applications - Shock therapy is used to help treat gambling addiction (negative reinforcement)

Research support - Pavlov and Little Albert (conditioning in humans)

An incomprehensive explanation for behaviour - on its own, it only explains how behaviour may be acquired but not maintained

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

• One reinforces behaviour, the other decreases behaviour

• One adds something, one takes away something to reward behaviour

• No difference, punishment is the different one

• One is classical conditioning and one is operant conditioning

Answer explanation

Positive reinforcement is rewarding and increasing behaviour by 'adding' something (+) e.g., giving a food pellet

Negative reinforcement is rewarding and increasing behaviour by 'taking' something away (-) e.g., stopping an electric shock

Which of these correctly explains 'positive punishment'?

• Taking away something to reinforce behaviour

• Taking away something to decrease behaviour

• Adding something to decrease behaviour

• Adding something to reinforce behaviour

Answer explanation

Positive punishment is when something is added or given (+) to decrease a behaviour, such as shouting or hitting to discipline a child or animal

Negative punishment is when something is taken away (-) to decrease behaviour, such as a toy for children

Which animal did Skinner use in his experiments?

• Rats

• Dogs

• Pigeons

• Geckos

Answer explanation

Skinner's boxes famously used rats and pigeons to reinforce behaviour

Often these would have levers and lightbulbs

Name one or more evaluation point(s) for operant conditioning.

Answer explanation

Practical applications - Reward systems in primary schools/education, and in prisons (token economies)

Research support - Skinner's experiments, human studies have shown brain areas and structures linked to behaviour

Incomplete explanation (without classical) - Explains why we continue behaviour but not necessarily how we acquire it

Which experiment was conducted by Bandura for Social Learning Theory?

• Twin studies

• Digit span test

• Line study

• Bobo doll

Answer explanation

Albert Bandura conducted the 'bobo doll experiment'. Bobo means clown in Spanish.

Explain the best you can what took place in Bandura's bobo doll experiment.

Answer explanation

The bobo doll experiment looked into if children would 'model' behaviours from adults, in particular aggression. He showed them either a real-life person, video of a person, or a cartoon of an adult being aggressive to a bobo doll. This includes hostile language, punching, kicking, throwing etc. Children then imitated these behaviours, and even exercised other behaviours (such as using toy guns). Boys and girls imitated their same-gender models more often than opposite-gender models. Vicarious reinforcement showed that being punished had an effect on imitation, but not rewards.