Question

question 31
1 pts
pauses in responding are most pronounced following reinforcement in ______ schedules
variable-ratio
fixed-ratio
fixed-interval
variable-interval
question 32
1 pts
what was the important finding of tolman’s latent learning experiments in which rats learned to run a maze?
rats that began to receive reinforcement halfway through the experiment rapidly matched the performance of rats that had been reinforced from the beginning of the experiment
rats that were never reinforced never learned to run the maze
rats that were never reinforced still learned to run the maze
rats that began to receive reinforcement halfway through the experiment never learned to run the maze

Explanation:

Question 31

To solve this, we analyze each reinforcement schedule:

• Variable - ratio: Responses are steady with no long pauses after reinforcement (e.g., slot machines, behavior is maintained at a high rate).
• Fixed - ratio: After reinforcement, there may be a short pause, but not the most pronounced (e.g., getting paid after a fixed number of tasks, a brief rest then back to work).
• Fixed - interval: Reinforcement is available after a fixed time has passed. After reinforcement, there is a long pause as the organism waits for the next interval to start (e.g., getting paid weekly, after getting paid, people may slack off until near the end of the week).
• Variable - interval: Reinforcement is at variable time intervals, so pauses after reinforcement are not pronounced (e.g., pop quizzes, you can't predict when the next one is, so you keep studying).

So the schedule with the most pronounced pauses after reinforcement is fixed - interval.

Tolman's latent learning experiments with rats in mazes showed that:

• Rats that were never reinforced (the control group) still learned the maze (they had latent learning, knowledge that was not demonstrated until there was an incentive).
• Option 1: The rats that started reinforcement halfway didn't rapidly match the continuously reinforced rats.
• Option 2: Contradicts the finding as rats did learn without reinforcement.
• Option 4: Also incorrect as they did learn when reinforcement was introduced.

So the important finding is that rats that were never reinforced still learned to run the maze.

Answer:

C. fixed - interval

Question 32