Unit 7 ASRs Answer Key Part 3

7.9 1. What is the value-altering effect of an EO SR? a. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer b. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer c. Evokes behavior d. Abates behavior Answer: Value-altering is a change in the effectiveness of a consequence. Therefore, the value-altering effect of an EO SR is a change in the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. An increase in the effectiveness of a consequence is described as an establishing effect. Since the consequence is a reinforcer, this would be the value-altering effect of an EOSR. 2. What is the value-altering effect of an AO SR? a. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer b. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer c. Evokes behavior d. Abates behavior Answer: b Explanation: Value-altering is a change in the effectiveness of a consequence. Therefore, the value-altering effect of an AO SR is a change in the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer. A decrease in the effectiveness of a consequence is described as an abolishing effect. Since the consequence is a reinforcer, this would be the value-altering effect of an AOSR. 3. What is the behavior-altering effect of an AO SR? a. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer b. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer c. Evokes behavior d. Abates behavior Answer: d Explanation: Behavior-altering is a change in the probability of a type of behavior. Therefore, the behavior-altering effect of an AOSR is a change in the probability of a type of behavior. Abates behavior. This is a decrease in the probability of a type of behavior. Behavior is less likely when a consequence is less valuable as a form of reinforcement. Therefore, AOSRs have this type of behavior-altering effect. 4. What is the behavior-altering effect of an EO SR? a. Increases the effectiveness of a reinforcer b. Decreases the effectiveness of a reinforcer c. Evokes behavior 5. Louie likes to make his peers laugh. When all students are independently reading at their desks quietly, Louie makes a naughty joke aloud in class and his peers laugh. This is an example of an: a. EO for reinforcement b. AO for reinforcement Answer: a Explanation: EO for reinforcement increases the value of a consequence as consequence as a form of reinforcement. In this scenario, not receiving attention from other students increases the value of getting their attention. As a result, not getting attention from other students evokes making naughty jokes. Since not getting attention from other students increases the value of getting their attention as a form of reinforcement, this would be an EO. For this scenario to be an AO, the value of attention from other students would have to decrease, which is not the case. 6. Louie likes to make his peers laugh. When all students are independently reading at their desks quietly, Louie makes a naughty joke aloud in class and his peers laugh. What is the consequence whose value is being altered? Answer: Peer laughter Explanation: A consequence is an environmental event that follows a response. In this scenario, the response is making a naughty joke. The event that follows this response is hearing other students laugh. Therefore, hearing the peers’ laughter is the consequence. 7. Louie likes to make his peers laugh. When all students are independently reading at their desks quietly, Louie makes a naughty joke aloud in class and his peers laugh. What is the establishing operation? Answer: Deprivation of peer laughter (all students are independently reading at their desks quietly) Explanation: An establishing operation is an antecedent that (a) alters the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement or punishment and (b) evokes or abates behavior. In this scenario, the response is saying naughty jokes. The antecedent is the event that was taking place before this response. This event was other students working quietly and not providing attention to Louie. Being deprived of attention from peers would increase the value of getting their attention as a form of reinforcement. Therefore, deprivation from peers’ attention would be the establishing operation (related to reinforcement). 8. Louie likes to make his peers laugh. When all students are independently reading at their desks quietly, Louie makes a naughty joke aloud in class and his peers laugh. What is the value-altering effect? Answer: Increases the effectiveness of peer laughter as a reinforcer Explanation: Value-altering is a change in the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. The consequence in this scenario is getting attention from peers. Being deprived of attention from peers would increase the value of their attention and make it more effective as a form of reinforcement. 9. Louie likes to make his peers laugh. When all students are independently reading at their desks quietly, Louie makes a naughty joke aloud in class and his peers laugh. What is the behavior-altering effect? Answer: Evokes making a naughty joke aloud in class Explanation: The behavior of Louie is making a naughty joke aloud in class. Since this behavior occurs (there is an increase in its probability), the behavior-altering effect is an evocative effect. 7.10 1. Kendra often brings her umbrella to the beach on sunny days to escape the heat and brightness. Just as Kendra begins to set up her umbrella, a big cluster of clouds appear and cover the bright, hot sun. Kendra stops setting up the umbrella in the sand. This is an example of an: a. EO for reinforcement b. AO for reinforcement Answer: b Explanation: EO for reinforcement increases the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. AO for reinforcement decreases the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. In this scenario, the big cluster of clouds cover the bright, hot sun. This would decrease the value of decreasing the temperature and brightness as a form of reinforcement. Since this is a decrease in the value of a consequence, this would be an AO for reinforcement. 2. Kendra often brings her umbrella to the beach on sunny days to escape the heat and brightness. Just as Kendra begins to set up her umbrella, a big cluster of clouds appear and cover the bright, hot sun. Kendra stops setting up the umbrella in the sand. What is the consequence whose value is being altered? Answer: The removal of heat and brightness Explanation: A consequence is an environmental event that follows a response. In this scenario, the response is setting up the umbrella. The event that follows this response would be a decrease in the temperature and a reduction in brightness. Therefore, the removal of heat and brightness would be the consequence whose value is being altered. 3. Kendra often brings her umbrella to the beach on sunny days to escape the heat and brightness. Just as Kendra begins to set up her umbrella, a big cluster of clouds appear and cover the bright, hot sun. Kendra stops setting up the umbrella in the sand. What is the abolishing operation? Answer: A cluster of clouds covering the bright hot sun Explanation: An abolishing operation is an antecedent that (a) alters the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement or punishment and (b) evokes or abates behavior. In this scenario, the response is setting up the umbrella. The antecedent is the event that was taking place before this response. This event was the hot, sunny day. Being under the shade would decrease the value of decreasing the temperature and brightness as a form of reinforcement. Therefore, the cluster of clouds would be the abolishing operation (related to reinforcement). 4. Kendra often brings her umbrella to the beach on sunny days to escape the heat and brightness. Just as Kendra begins to set up her umbrella, a big cluster of clouds appear and cover the bright, hot sun. Kendra stops setting up the umbrella in the sand. What is the value-altering effect? Answer: Decreases the effectiveness of the removal of heat and brightness as a reinforcer Explanation: Value-altering is a change in the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement. The consequence in this scenario is decreasing the temperature and the brightness. Being in the shade would decrease the value of reducing the temperature and brightness and make them less effective as a form of reinforcement. 5. Kendra often brings her umbrella to the beach on sunny days to escape the heat and brightness. Just as Kendra begins to set up her umbrella, a big cluster of clouds appear and cover the bright, hot sun. Kendra stops setting up the umbrella in the sand. What is the behavior-altering effect? Answer: Abates setting up the umbrella in the sand Explanation: The behavior of Kendra is setting up the umbrella. Since this behavior does not occur (there is a decrease in its probability), the behavior-altering effect is an abative effect. 6. What effect does the locked door have on “looking for the key” behavior? a. Evocative effect b. Abative effect c. Establishing effect d. Abolishing effect Answer: a Explanation: The locked door is an antecedent. Looking for the key is a behavior. Then, the effect of the antecedent on behavior describers a behavior-altering effect. Behavior-altering effects may be either evocative or abative. Establishing and abolishing are effects on a consequence, which are value-altering. Therefore, the locked door has an evocative effect, because looking for the key is more likely in such a situation. 7. What effect does the unlocked door have on the effectiveness/value of the key? a. Evocative effect b. Abative effect c. Establishing effect d. Abolishing effect Answer: d Explanation: The unlocked door is an antecedent. Finding the key is a consequence for the behavior of looking for the key. Since the question is about an effect on value, the answer should be either an establishing or abolishing effect. The answer cannot be evocative or abative effects because these are effects on behavior. An establishing effect would be an increase in value. An abolishing effect would be a decrease in value. Because the unlocked door decreases the value of finding the key as a form of reinforcement, this would be an abolishing effect. 8. The ____ name of a motivating operation is based on the value-altering effect; The ____ name of a motivating operation is based on the consequence whose value is being altered. Answer: First; last Explanation: When the terms “establishing” or “abolishing” are used in relation to motivating operations, they describe their value-altering effect. If they increase the value of a consequence, the term “establishing” is used. If they decrease the value of a consequence, the term “abolishing” is used. When the terms “for reinforcement” or “for punishment” are used in relation to motivating operations, they describe the type of consequence whose value is being altered. If the consequence is a reinforcer, the term “EO/AO for reinforcement” is used. If the consequence is a punisher, the term “EO/AO for punishment” is used. 9. Establishing and abolishing operations are classified as EOs or AOs for positive or negative reinforcement or punishment. a. True b. False Answer: a Explanation: Establishing and abolishing operations are further subdivided based on the type of consequence they alter. If they alter the value of a consequence as a form of reinforcement, they are classified as EOs and AOs for reinforcement. If they alter the value of a consequence as a form of punishment, they are classified as EOs and AOs for punishment. 10. Which of the following is an EO for positive reinforcement? a. Blair has waited all week to watch a new show with her best friend, Aliyah. At the end of the week, Aliyah calls Blair and invites her over to watch the show. Blair agrees and heads over to Aliyah’s house b. Elliot has been working at his desk for three straight hours and needs a break. When his coworker asks if he wants to take a break outside, Elliot immediately gets up c. Patrick has been playing with his puppy for hours at the park. When his puppy brings him the ball, Patrick does not reach for it d. Troy has just woken up from a long nap and declines when his mother asks if he would like to go lay down and rest on the new hammock Answer: a Explanation: An EO for reinforcement increases the effectiveness of an event as a form of reinforcement and evokes behavior that has been reinforced by this event in the past. In this example, access to the new show with her best friend is a positive reinforcer, and waiting all week (deprivation) to watch the new show increases the effectiveness of access to the show as a reinforcer, setting up an EO for positive reinforcement. On the other hand, an AO for reinforcement decreases the effectiveness of an event as a form of reinforcement and abates behavior that has been reinforced by this event in the past. In the example of the puppy, already playing with the puppy for hours (satiation) decreases the effectiveness of puppy play time as a reinforcer, and abates the behavior of reaching for the ball, setting up an AO for reinforcement. In the example of the nap, already taking a long nap (satiation) decreases the effectiveness of more sleep as a reinforcer and abates the behavior of laying down to rest on a hammock. In the example with the coworkers, not having a break for three straight hours increases the effectiveness of a break from work as a negative reinforcer and evokes the behavior of standing up, setting up an EO for negative reinforcement. 11. Which of the following is an AO for positive reinforcement? a. Adrianna typically speaks to her friend Vilma every day. A few days go by, and Adriana hasn't heard from her. She sends Vilma a message to check on her b. Hannah spends all morning watching videos on her tablet. After she completes a chore, her parents offer her the tablet. Hannah suggests another activity c. Mirta’s clinical supervisor offers her the opportunity to leave work early since Mirta appears stressed. However, Mirta’s house is being fumigated, so she passes on leaving the clinic early d. Roger skips breakfast this morning. In the afternoon, Magda asks Roger if he wants to have lunch at a nearby café. He immediately accepts her offer Answer: b Explanation: An AO for positive reinforcement decreases the value of reinforcement of a consequence. In this example, because Hannah has been on her tablet all morning, that decreases the value of the tablet as a reinforcer and abates the behavior of playing on her tablet. In the example of Roger, skipping breakfast increased the value of lunch as a consequence, which evoked accepting the offer, which would be an EO for positive reinforcement. For Adrianna, when she hasn’t spoken to Vilma in a few days, that increased the value of talking to Vilma as a consequence, which evoked sending her a message, thus making this another example of an EO for positive reinforcement. For the example of Marta, having her house fumigated serves as an AO for negative reinforcement because it decreases the value of leaving work early and abates the behavior of leaving early. 12. Which of the following is an EO for negative reinforcement? a. Carl came back from a long break outside. When his teacher asks if he needs a break, he declines b. Danuta is running a marathon. At the halfway mark, a volunteer at the race offers her a sports drink, which Danuta immediately takes c. Cuthbert wakes up with a headache. When his alarm sounds, he immediately turns it off d. Elise eats an entire bowl of popcorn. When her sister offers Elise some of hers, Elise does not take any Answer: c Explanation: An EO for negative reinforcement increases the value of negative reinforcement and may evoke avoidance or escape behavior. Cuthbert’s headache increases the value of escape from the alarm, evoking the behavior of turning it off. In the example of Elise, eating an entire bowl of popcorn served as an AO for positive reinforcement when she was offered more, which abated the behavior of eating popcorn. Similarly, for Carl, he has just had a long break, serving as an AO for positive reinforcement when he is offered an additional break and abates the behavior of taking a break. When Danuta is running the marathon, that serves as an EO for positive reinforcement, which evokes accepting the sports drink. 13. Which of the following is an AO for negative reinforcement? a. Britta is working on an assignment and finds that she can complete it quickly without help. When her teacher offers her assistance, Britta declines b. Leo's newborn son begins to cry. His wife asked to sleep in because she has a big presentation that day, so Leo rushes to attend to his son to stop his crying quickly c. Lola has a paper due in under 30 minutes. She usually takes a scheduled break every 25 minutes, but this time she works through it d. Matilda has been watching the trailers for a new superhero movie that has her very excited. When her friend offers to take her to watch the movie, she immediately agrees Answer: c Explanation: An AO for negative reinforcement decreases the value of escape or avoidance as a consequence and abates the behavior that accesses that consequence. In this example, because Lola has a paper due, that decreases the value of a break as a consequence and abates the behavior of taking a break after 25 minutes. In the example of Matilda, watching the trailers serves as an EO for positive reinforcement, which evokes her accepting the offer of going to see the movie. In the example of Leo, when his wife asked not to be woken up, that served as an EO for negative reinforcement of ending the crying, and evoked Leo getting up to tend to his son before his wife woke. In the example of Britta, she can quickly complete the assignment by herself, and does not need help, which serves as an AO for the positive reinforcement of assistance from her teacher, which leads to her declining the offer of help. 14. Wilma's employer states that if employees reach a specific goal within three weeks, they will have extra time off during the last week of the month. Wilma has family coming into town during the last week of the month and would like to be able to spend less time at work and more time at home with them. Wilma’s family being in town at the end of the month is an example of an: a. AO for negative reinforcement b. AO for positive reinforcement c. EO for negative reinforcement d. EO for positive reinforcement Answer: c Explanation: An EO for negative reinforcement increases the value of escape or avoidance. In this case, Wilma’s family being in town increases the value of escaping work, which then evokes the behavior of working to meet her goal so she can have the additional time off. In this situation, an EO for positive reinforcement might be that the boss offers a bonus at the end of the month if employees meet the goal, thus evoking work behavior that contacts positive reinforcement of a bonus. An AO for positive reinforcement might be that the boss offers a bonus for meeting the goal, but Wilma has just gotten her tax return and has made several large purchases already which abates the behavior of working to get the bonus. An AO for negative reinforcement might be that the boss offers time off at the end of the month, and Wilma’s family will be in town, but she wishes to avoid seeing them, thus decreasing the value of the time off of work as a consequence and abating the behavior of working to get the time off. 15. Isa has been reading the reviews for a restaurant. Several reviews mention that their desserts are the best in town. When she goes to the restaurant, the server offers her the dessert menu, and she takes it. This is an example of an: a. AO for negative reinforcement b. AO for positive reinforcement c. EO for negative reinforcement d. EO for positive reinforcement Answer: d Explanation: An EO for positive reinforcement increases the value of the reinforcer. In this case, Isa has been reading the positive reviews, which served as an EO for the desserts as a consequence. An EO for negative reinforcement in this example might be reading bad reviews, which could evoke avoidance or escape behavior of going to a different restaurant instead or telling the server she doesn’t want a dessert menu. An AO for positive reinforcement in this example could be eating dessert right before she came, which would decrease the value of the desserts as a reinforcer and abate the behavior of going to the restaurant or taking the dessert menu. An AO for negative reinforcement in this situation could be if she saw that the cheesecake had negative reviews but was offered ice cream instead. 16. Watson wins the employee raffle and earns a preferred parking spot for a month. The following week, his boss informs his employees that he will give a preferred parking spot to anyone who offers to complete an optional project, but Watson declines. This is an example of an: a. AO for negative reinforcement b. AO for positive reinforcement c. EO for negative reinforcement d. EO for positive reinforcement Answer: b Explanation: An AO for reinforcement decreases the effectiveness of an event as a form of reinforcement and abates behavior that has been reinforced by this event in the past. Since Watson already won a preferred parking spot, he would not need another one; therefore, already having a spot decreases the effectiveness of getting another preferred spot and abates Watson’s behavior of offering to complete the project, setting up an AO for positive reinforcement. This scenario could be an EO for positive reinforcement if, for example, Watson never won the raffle, which increases the effectiveness of getting a preferred spot and evokes Watson’s behavior of offering to complete the project. This would be an EO for negative reinforcement if his boss had said that he would be written up if he did not complete the project by evoking the behavior of completing the assignment to avoid being written up. This would be an AO for negative reinforcement if his boss told him that he no longer needed to work on the project in order to access the parking spot and would abate the behavior of working on the project. 17. Nan often forgets to wear her seatbelt, which leads to the car beeping until she puts it on. However, it is very hot outside and the air conditioning in her car is so loud that she can barely hear the beep, and so Nan does not put on her seatbelt. This is an example of an: a. AO for negative reinforcement b. AO for positive reinforcement c. EO for negative reinforcement d. EO for positive reinforcement