Name: ___________________
Date: ____________
Score: __(out of 20 points)__
Reinforcement
1. Skinner developed an apparatus commonly referred to as a/an ____operant chamber or
Skinner Box______ and a recording device called a ____cumulative record(er)_________ to
measure the change in response rates of rats and pigeons.
2. Reinforcement is defined as presenting a _consequence_______ following a behavior which
_increases_____ the future frequency or rate of the behavior.
3. A _____reinforcer_____ is the consequence that follows a behavior and increases the future
probability of the occurrence of that behavior.
4. A __positive reinforcer________ is a stimulus that is presented after a behavior and
increases the future frequency of that behavior while a ___negative reinforcer_________ is a
stimulus that is removed following a behavior and increases the future frequency of that
behavior.
5. Both positive and negative reinforcers ___increase___________ the future probability of the
occurrence of the behavior they immediately follow.
6. Negative reinforcers, like positive reinforcers, increase behavior, but a negative reinforcer is
something that is ___removed or taken away______, instead of presented, after a behavior.
7. The instructor allows Linda to end the work session when she completes a task and Linda
completes tasks more often. Ending the work session is a ___negative reinforcer_____.
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8. The instructor gives praise to Robert every time he greets her and he greets her more often.
Praise is a ___positive reinforcer________.
9. The instructor gives Linda candy every time she completes a task and Linda completes tasks
more often. Candy is a __positive reinforcer_____.
10. William nags the instructor for some candy, the instructor finally gives William candy, and
then William stops nagging. As a result, the instructor is more likely to give in to William
nagging in the future. Stopping the nagging is a __negative reinforcer________ for the
instructor.
11. As a result of the above situation, William nags more frequently for candy. Candy is a
__positive reinforcer_________ for William’s nagging.
12. Escape from pain, food, self-stimulation, water, sleep, and sex are examples of ___primary or
unconditioned____ reinforcers.
13. A _secondary or conditioned or learned reinforcer_ is any event that, although originally
neutral, derives its reinforcing properties through pairing with a primary reinforcer or with an
already-established reinforcer.
14. In a sense, some reinforcers are learned through experience. Examples of _secondary or
learned or conditioned reinforcers_ include toys, praise, car rides, tokens, or money.
15. The reinforcement of every occurrence of a response occurs on a _continuous______
schedule of reinforcement.
16. During a/an __intermittent schedule__ schedule of reinforcement, reinforcement of some, but
not all, occurrences of a response is given.
17. A _Fixed Ratio (FR)___ is a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer follows a
predetermined number of responses.
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18. A _Variable Ratio (VR)_is a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer follows a
different number of responses each time such that over time a specific average number of
responses are reinforced.
19. A _Fixed Interval (FI)_ is a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer follows the
first pre-specified response after a pre-specified amount of time has elapsed.
20. A _Variable Interval (VI)_ is a schedule of reinforcement in which the reinforcer follows the
first pre-specified response after different intervals of time have elapsed such that over time a
specific average interval is maintained.
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