Question

in the following examples, identify which element is being used to control behavior:
a. positive reinforcement
b. negative reinforcement
c. punishment
d. extinction

1. _____ the smoke detector in jesses house is low on batteries. it emits an annoying chirp every few seconds. jesse installs a new battery so it will stop making that noise.
2. _____ dr. smith, a doe college instructor, is having difficulty getting students to turn in papers. previously, he had not assigned credit for homework; rather, he had simply assumed that students would do it for the practice. dr. smith establishes a policy that all students who turn in papers will get full credit for their work. students now turn in papers much more often.
3. _____ robert puts $0.85 in the coke machine to buy his daily coke. today, nothing comes out, and he does not get his money back. robert does not put any more money in the machine.
4. _____ jeff is playing with his food at the dinner table. his mother tells him to stop playing with his food. when he does not stop, she takes his food away, leaving jeff hungry all night. jeff never plays with his food again.
5. _____ jeff is playing with his food at the dinner table while his parents are trying to carry on an adult conversation. when his mother notices what jeff is doing, she stops talking with her husband and directs her attention to jeff. she yells at him to stop playing with his food, and says that playing with his food is a horrible and disgusting habit. jeff plays with his food again several times during that meal, and even more frequently the next night.
6. d jeff is diligently working on an art project at school. his teacher notices how nicely he is working and praises him loudly for his efforts. jeff immediately seems less interested working on his project. the teacher praises the little bits he completes as time goes on, and jeff stops working on the art project entirely.

Explanation:

• Question 8: Jesse installs a new battery to remove the annoying noise (negative stimulus). This is negative reinforcement as it strengthens the behavior (installing the battery) by removing an unpleasant stimulus.
• Question 9: Dr. Smith gives full credit (a positive stimulus) for turning in papers. This increases the behavior (turning in papers), which is positive reinforcement.
• Question 10: Robert's behavior (putting money in the machine) stops because there is no response (no Coke and no money back). This lack of reinforcement leads to extinction.
• Question 11: Jeff's mother takes away his food (removes a positive stimulus) when he plays with food. This decreases the behavior (playing with food), which is punishment.
• Question 12: Jeff's mother gives him attention (a positive stimulus) when he plays with food. This increases the behavior (playing with food), which is positive reinforcement.

Answer:

1. b. negative reinforcement
2. a. positive reinforcement
3. d. extinction
4. c. punishment
5. a. positive reinforcement