AP Psychology: Learning & Cognition 2

Question 1

In classical conditioning, what is the unconditioned stimulus (UCS)?

Accepted Answer

A stimulus that naturally triggers a response without prior learning

Answer

The unconditioned stimulus naturally and automatically produces a response without any conditioning.

Question 2

What is the difference between positive and negative reinforcement?

Accepted Answer

Positive adds a desirable stimulus; negative removes an aversive stimulus

Answer

Both increase behavior: positive reinforcement adds something pleasant, while negative reinforcement removes something unpleasant.

Question 3

What did Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment demonstrate?

Accepted Answer

Children learn aggressive behavior through observation and imitation

Answer

Bandura's experiment showed that children who observed an adult behaving aggressively toward a Bobo doll were more likely to imitate that aggression.

Question 4

What is the availability heuristic in decision-making?

Accepted Answer

Judging the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind

Answer

The availability heuristic leads people to overestimate the probability of events that are more memorable or vivid.

Question 5

What is a variable-ratio reinforcement schedule and why is it effective?

Accepted Answer

Reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses; it produces high, steady response rates

Answer

Variable-ratio schedules reinforce after an unpredictable number of responses, producing the highest and most consistent response rates.

AP Practice Test