B F Skinner Rigged the Cages of Eight Pigeons So That

question 42

Multiple Choice

B. F. Skinner rigged the cages of eight pigeons so that food was delivered every 15 seconds. Within a short time, most of the pigeons were practicing some sort of consistent ritual, even though the ritual did not have the least effect on the delivery of the reinforcer. The birds were ________.

• A) demonstrating spontaneous recovery
• B) developing phobias
• C) trained by vicarious conditioning
• D) behaving superstitiously

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Definitions:

Placebo Effect

A phenomenon in which a person experiences a perceived improvement in their condition due to their expectations or beliefs, rather than the effect of an active medical treatment.

False Treatment Interaction Effect

An erroneous conclusion that the effect of a treatment varies depending on different settings or groups, often due to methodological flaws.

Paradigm Effect

The phenomenon where existing beliefs or frameworks influence the interpretation of new information or experiences.

Time Sampling

A data collection technique that involves observing and recording behavior during predetermined intervals, offering insights into patterns over time.