Question

1. which of the following statements concerning reinforcement is correct? a) learning is most rapid with intermittent reinforcement, but continuous reinforcement produces the greatest resistance to extinction. b) learning is most rapid with continuous reinforcement, but intermittent reinforcement produces the greatest resistance to extinction. c) learning is fastest and resistance to extinction is greatest after continuous reinforcement. d) learning is fastest and resistance to extinction is greatest following intermittent reinforcement. 39. on an intermittent reinforcement schedule, reinforcement is given: a) in very small amounts. b) randomly. c) for successive approximations of a desired behavior. d) only some of the time. 40. the “piecework,” or commission, method of payment is an example of which reinforcement schedule? a) fixed - interval b) variable - interval c) fixed - ratio d) variable - ratio 41. lars, a shoe salesman, is paid every two weeks, whereas tom receives a commission for each pair of shoes he sells. evidently, lars is paid on a ______ schedule of reinforcement, and tom on a ______ schedule of reinforcement. a) fixed - ratio; fixed - interval b) continuous; intermittent c) fixed - interval; fixed - ratio d) variable - interval; variable - ratio 42. you are expecting an important letter in the mail. as the regular delivery time approaches you glance more and more frequently out the window, searching for the letter carrier. your behavior in this situation typifies that associated with which schedule of reinforcement? a) fixed - ratio b) variable - ratio c) fixed - interval d) variable - interval

Explanation:

• Question 38: Learning occurs most rapidly with continuous reinforcement as the behavior - reinforcement link is clear immediately. Intermittent reinforcement, however, produces the greatest resistance to extinction as the individual keeps anticipating the reinforcement even when it's not consistent.
• Question 39: In an intermittent reinforcement schedule, reinforcement is given only some of the time, not continuously.
• Question 40: The piece - work or commission method of payment is a fixed - ratio schedule as reinforcement (payment) is provided after a fixed number of responses (number of pieces worked or sales made).
• Question 41: Lars is paid every two weeks, which is a fixed - interval schedule (time - based, fixed). Tom gets a commission for each pair of shoes sold, which is a fixed - ratio schedule (response - based, fixed).
• Question 42: Since you are expecting a letter at a regular (fixed) delivery time and your behavior (glancing out the window) increases as the time approaches, this is a fixed - interval reinforcement schedule.

Answer:

1. B
2. D
3. C
4. C
5. C