A Child Is Presented with Two Identical Balls of Clay

question 47

Multiple Choice

A child is presented with two identical balls of clay. As the child watches, one ball is rolled into a sausage, while the other remains untouched. The child is asked which has more clay, the sausage shape or the untouched ball of clay. This experiment most likely is testing which of the following concepts?

• A) seriation
• B) conservation
• C) egocentrism
• D) classification

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Definitions:

Negative Reinforcer

An unpleasant stimulus whose removal leads to an increase in the probability that a preceding response will be repeated in the future.

Immediate Reinforcer

refers to a reward that occurs directly after a behavior, enhancing the likelihood of that behavior occurring again in the future.

Latent Learning

Learning that occurs without immediate reinforcement and is not demonstrated until there is an incentive to perform.

Law of Effect

A principle in psychology stating that responses closely followed by satisfaction will become firmly attached to the situation and therefore more likely to recur in similar situations.