Barbara, a Purchasing Agent for UTA, Was Fired for Good

question 186

Multiple Choice

Barbara, a purchasing agent for UTA, was fired for good reason. Being angry about her dismissal, she calls one of UTA's suppliers and orders 1,000 purple widgets UTA does not need. If UTA, the principal, is held liable for this transaction, it is because Barbara had:

• A) express authority
• B) implied authority
• C) apparent authority
• D) actual authority
• E) none of the other choices apply

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Definitions:

Intermittent Reinforcement

A conditioning schedule where a response is reinforced only some of the time, leading to more resistant behaviour to extinction.

Extinction

In psychology, the gradual weakening and disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is no longer presented.

Continuous Reinforcement

A learning schedule in which a behavior is reinforced each time it is exhibited.

Fixed Ratio

A schedule of reinforcement where a response is rewarded after a specified number of responses, frequently used in behavior modification programs.