Free Learning and Motivation MCQs with Answers

• A. Instrumental learning is the process by which an animal learns about the relationship between the behaviour and the consequences of that behaviour
• B. Instrumentally trained responses are not entirely elicited by identifiable stimuli
• C. Instrumental learning allows the animal to control the occurrence of environmental events
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Instrumental learning links an emitted behaviour with its consequences, allowing the learner to influence what happens in the environment.

• A. Behavior
• B. Attitudes
• C. Skills and increase in skills
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Learning produces relatively lasting changes that may appear in behaviour, attitudes, skills, and the improvement of existing skills.

• A. Learning thought trial & error
• B. Learning thought imitation
• C. Learning thought insight
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Learning by doing can occur through trial and error, imitation, or insight, depending on the task and the learner’s understanding.

• A. Has an understanding of the environment
• B. Knows the benefits of the solution of problem
• C. Consciously makes efforts to solve a problem
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Insight learning involves understanding the relationships in a situation, recognising how a solution will help, and deliberately…

• A. Trial & error
• B. Imitation
• C. Insight
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Individuals can acquire learning through trial and error, by observing and imitating others, or by suddenly understanding a problem’s…

• A. Uses his previous knowledge
• B. Deliberately attempts to solve the problems
• C. Identifies the irrelevant aspects of a problems
• D. All of the above

Explanation: Insight uses previous knowledge, involves purposeful attempts to solve the problem, and requires separating relevant from irrelevant…

• A. before
• B. after
• C. simultaneously with
• D. in a manner unrelated to

Explanation: In classical conditioning, the stimulus that predicts the response is presented before the response occurs, unlike operant conditioning…

• A. observational learning
• B. non-contingent reinforcement
• C. resistance to extinction
• D. classical conditioning

Explanation: Observational learning explains how witnessing physical aggression can provide a model for later aggressive behavior, especially when the…

• A. generalization
• B. negative reinforcement
• C. higher-order conditioning
• D. punishment

Explanation: The sickness followed tequila consumption and caused the drinking behavior to decline, so it functioned as a punishing consequence.

• A. increases; decreases
• B. decreases; increases
• C. increases; increases
• D. decreases; decreases

Explanation: Both positive and negative reinforcement strengthen behavior and therefore increase its rate.

• A. biological; acquired
• B. conditioned; unconditioned
• C. weak; potent
• D. immediate; delayed

Explanation: Primary reinforcers are effective because of biological needs, such as food or water, while secondary reinforcers acquire value through…

• A. only a genuine, natural UCS can be used to establish a CR
• B. auditory stimuli are easier to condition than visual stimuli
• C. visual stimuli are easier to condition than auditory stimuli
• D. an already established CS can be used in the place of a natural UCS

Explanation: In higher-order conditioning, an established conditioned stimulus can support conditioning of another stimulus, functioning similarly to a…

• A. unconditioned stimulus
• B. unconditioned response
• C. conditioned stimulus
• D. conditioned response

Explanation: The tone began as a neutral stimulus but acquired the ability to elicit salivation after being paired with meat powder.

• A. stimulus automatically produces a response without a prior history of experience
• B. stimulus which did not initially produce a response now elicits that response
• C. spontaneously emitted response increases in frequency as a result of in consequences
• D. subject repeats an action he or she has observed in another and is praised for it

Explanation: Learning is shown when a stimulus that originally did not produce a particular response later elicits it because of experience.

• A. conditioned response
• B. unconditioned stimulus
• C. conditioned stimulus
• D. unconditioned response

Explanation: Pavlovian salivation to food occurs naturally without prior conditioning, making it an unconditioned response.

• A. intermittent
• B. partial
• C. negative
• D. continuous

Explanation: Continuous reinforcement means that every correct response is followed by a reinforcer.

• A. continuous
• B. fixed interval
• C. variable interval
• D. fixed ratio

Explanation: A fixed-interval schedule reinforces the first response after a constant period, here the first bark in every ten-minute period.

• A. Positive reinforcement
• B. Punishment
• C. Negative reinforcement
• D. Observation

Explanation: Punishment is defined by its effect: it decreases the future probability of the behavior it follows.

• A. Decreases
• B. Is punished
• C. Remains the same
• D. Increases

Explanation: Negative reinforcement strengthens behavior by removing or preventing an unpleasant stimulus, so the behavior increases.

• A. Principle of reinforcement
• B. Law of effect
• C. Contiguity hypothesis
• D. Theory of behaviorism

Explanation: Thorndike's Law of Effect states that responses followed by satisfying consequences become more likely, forming an important foundation…