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AP Psychology Practice Quiz: Operant Conditioning

Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026

Test your understanding with short quizzes. This quiz has 15 questions to check your progress.

Question 1 of 15

Operant conditioning is a method of learning that primarily associates a behavior with which of the following?

All Questions (15)

Operant conditioning is a method of learning that primarily associates a behavior with which of the following?

A) A neutral stimulus

B) An unconditioned stimulus

C) Its consequences

D) An innate biological reflex

Correct Answer: C

The provided content explicitly states that 'Operant conditioning associates consequences (reinforcement, punishment) with behaviors'.

The principle stating that behaviors followed by favorable consequences become more likely, and behaviors followed by unfavorable consequences become less likely, is known as the:

A) Law of Reinforcement

B) Principle of Shaping

C) Law of Effect

D) Rule of Association

Correct Answer: C

The content specifies that operant conditioning associates consequences with behaviors 'as described by the Law of Effect'.

A parent gives their child a piece of candy for cleaning their room. As a result, the child is more likely to clean their room in the future. The candy serves as a:

A) Positive reinforcer

B) Negative reinforcer

C) Positive punishment

D) Negative punishment

Correct Answer: A

Reinforcement increases a behavior. Since a desirable stimulus (candy) is added to increase the behavior (cleaning), this is an example of positive reinforcement.

To stop a loud, annoying alarm, a person presses the snooze button. The removal of the annoying sound makes them more likely to press the snooze button in the future. This is an example of:

A) Positive punishment

B) Negative reinforcement

C) Positive reinforcement

D) Learned helplessness

Correct Answer: B

The behavior (pressing snooze) is strengthened by the removal of an aversive stimulus (the loud alarm). The content describes negative reinforcement as the removal of a stimulus to increase a behavior.

Which of the following is the best example of a primary reinforcer?

A) A good grade on an exam

B) Money earned from a job

C) Praise from a supervisor

D) Food when hungry

Correct Answer: D

The content distinguishes between primary and secondary reinforcers. A primary reinforcer, like food, is innately satisfying and addresses a biological need. Grades, money, and praise are secondary reinforcers.

A dog trainer is teaching a dog to roll over. She first rewards the dog for lying down, then for lying on its side, and finally only for completing the full roll. This technique is called:

A) Continuous reinforcement

B) Shaping

C) Learned helplessness

D) Superstitious behavior

Correct Answer: B

The content defines shaping as 'the process of gradually rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior,' which is precisely what the trainer is doing.

A student who fails a test despite studying hard might feel that their efforts are useless. If this happens repeatedly and they stop studying altogether, they may be experiencing:

A) Shaping

B) Superstitious behavior

C) A variable-ratio schedule

D) Learned helplessness

Correct Answer: D

The content explains that learned helplessness can result from operant conditioning when an organism learns that its behaviors have no effect on the consequences, leading it to give up.

A new employee is praised by their manager for every single report they complete correctly. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

A) Fixed-ratio

B) Variable-interval

C) Continuous

D) Partial

Correct Answer: C

According to the content, 'Continuous reinforcement schedules deliver reinforcement for every correct behavior.'

A factory worker is paid $5 for every 100 widgets they produce. This payment plan is an example of which type of reinforcement schedule?

A) Fixed-interval

B) Variable-interval

C) Fixed-ratio

D) Variable-ratio

Correct Answer: C

The reinforcement (payment) is delivered after a specific, unchanging number of behaviors (100 widgets produced). The content describes this as a behavior-based, or ratio, schedule that is fixed.

A person who goes fishing knows that they might catch a fish at any moment, but they do not know exactly when the next bite will come. This is an example of which reinforcement schedule?

A) Fixed-ratio

B) Variable-interval

C) Fixed-interval

D) Continuous

Correct Answer: B

The reinforcement (catching a fish) is dependent on the passage of time, but the amount of time is unpredictable. The content describes this as a time-based, or interval, schedule that is variable.

A basketball player taps the ball three times before every free throw because they once made a crucial shot after doing so. This belief that the tapping causes success is an example of:

A) Learned helplessness

B) Shaping

C) Superstitious behavior

D) Negative reinforcement

Correct Answer: C

The content states that superstitious behavior can result from operant conditioning. This occurs when a coincidental association is made between a behavior and a reinforcement, leading to the repetition of the behavior.

What is the key difference between a ratio schedule and an interval schedule of reinforcement?

A) Ratio schedules are continuous, while interval schedules are partial.

B) Ratio schedules are based on the number of responses, while interval schedules are based on the passage of time.

C) Ratio schedules use primary reinforcers, while interval schedules use secondary reinforcers.

D) Ratio schedules lead to shaping, while interval schedules lead to learned helplessness.

Correct Answer: B

The content specifies that partial reinforcement schedules can be 'time-based (interval) or behavior-based (ratio)', making the distinction between time and number of responses the core difference.

A behavior learned via a continuous reinforcement schedule is learned quickly. However, it is also likely to be:

A) Very resistant to extinction.

B) Confused with superstitious behavior.

C) Extinguished quickly once the reinforcement stops.

D) Difficult to shape into a more complex behavior.

Correct Answer: C

The content states that the reinforcement schedule determines the strength of the association. Continuous reinforcement creates a weaker association that is easy to extinguish because the absence of the reward is immediately obvious. Partial schedules create stronger, more extinction-resistant behaviors.

A slot machine at a casino pays out after an unpredictable number of plays. This design encourages a high and steady rate of response from players. This is a classic example of which schedule?

A) Fixed-interval

B) Variable-ratio

C) Fixed-ratio

D) Variable-interval

Correct Answer: B

The reinforcement (payout) is based on the number of behaviors (plays), making it a ratio schedule. Because the number of plays needed is unpredictable, it is a variable-ratio schedule.

A teenager loses their phone privileges for a week after staying out past curfew. The removal of the phone is intended to decrease the likelihood of them breaking curfew again. This is an example of:

A) Negative punishment

B) Negative reinforcement

C) Positive reinforcement

D) A primary reinforcer

Correct Answer: A

Punishment is a consequence that decreases a behavior. Because a desirable stimulus (phone privileges) is being taken away to decrease the behavior (breaking curfew), it is a form of negative punishment.