A Drawback in Using Primary Punishers and Primary Reinforcers in Research

question 151

Multiple Choice

A drawback in using primary punishers and primary reinforcers in research would be that:

• A) the experimenter must first make sure that the stimulus has acquired reinforcing properties.
• B) using primary punishers or taking away a primary reinforcer would not be ethical.
• C) they are more likely than other punishers and reinforcers to lead to superstitious behaviours.
• D) they are not as effective as secondary reinforcers in conditioning procedures.

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Definitions:

Quasilinear Utility

A utility function where one good (usually money) enters linearly and therefore preferences for other goods are independent of the amount of money.

Price Elasticity

A measure of how much the quantity demanded of a good responds to a change in the price of that good, indicating the good's sensitivity to price changes.

Income Elasticity

A measure of how much the demand for a good or service changes in response to changes in the consumer's income.

Inverse Demand Function

A function that represents the price of a good as a function of the quantity demanded.