POSNEG-TEST

Directions: To identify each answer, you should keep two questions in mind:

  1. Was something added (positive) to affect the frequency of a behavior, or, was something removed (negative) to affect the frequency of a behavior?
  2. What behavior is more (reinforced) or less (punished) likely?
That should be enough to correctly label the scenarios.

NOTE: Many (if not all) of these could be re-phrased to seemingly fit into a different category. However, I think to do so would require you to violate your intuition as to what constitutes a punishment versus a reinforcement. That is, consider a child whose behavior was modified from being fidgety and distracting at church to behaving appropriately. Without the context of what was added or removed to affect that behavior, you could wonder whether the change should best be described as a decrease in misbehavior (punished) or as an increase in appropriate behavior (reinforced). What if the behavior change resulted because of a mother’s pinch to her child’s arm compared with the behavior change due to a promise of ice-cream. Unless the kid is a little pervy and likes being pinched by mom, most people would call this a punishment. So, pain added + decrease in misbehavior = positive punishment. Whereas the ice-cream (unless the child is known by mom to be lactose intolerant) would typically be viewed as reinforcing, so go with positive reinforcement (ice-cream added to increase appropriate behavior).

A few of these scenarios do not actually fit well for any of the four possibilities (although they describe other principles we have covered or will cover in class). So some of the following are "none of the above" answers.

Select the BEST response alternative for each of the questions below.

1. Whenever a child is grounded for misbehaving.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
2. When my daughter does not clean up her toys or isn’t listening to me, I will take away a certain toy she was playing with or take away her iPad until she starts listening again.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
3. Stacy got cat-called (harrassed) repeatedly at gas stations, and when she goes to them now, she is more cautious.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
4. Tom received an email stating he reached 2,000 work hours.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
5. I would have certain privileges taken away if my grades were poor.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
6. Molly will not have to clean her room if she helps bathe the dogs.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
7. Getting paid to do a task or chore.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
8. I work with kids, so there is a ton of arguing with them. The biggest fights are always the ones dealing with a toy. When this happens, I simply go over and take it from both of them.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
9. Becky is not allowed to jump on the trampoline because she hit her brother.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
10. Receiving a bad grade on a report card and getting grounded for it. This used to happen to me all the time.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
11. A child is making a mess at a restaurant, so mommy makes a deal that if the child behaves (stops making a mess, etc.), the child can play with the phone.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
12. Whenever a child is kicked out of their favorite class for acting up.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
13. Whenever a child is kicked out of a hated (dreaded) class for acting up.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
14. A child screams at her mother, mommy smacks her to get her to quiet down (stop screaming).
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
15. To avoid getting a migraine Lynnette takes a pill in the morning.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
16. Whenever the dog barks at you for attention you yell at it, so the dog keeps barking.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
17. When a child gets punished for doing something that is thought to be wrong when in reality, they aren’t doing anything bad.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
18. Tom received an email stating he won a cash-bonus for hitting the "2,000 hours in ten months" mark.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
19. When my daughter was younger, if we were out to eat and I put something in front of her that she did not want and she would start screaming and making a scene, I would take the food away from her. This was basically to save myself from embarrassment of a screaming toddler in a restaurant when people are trying to eat.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
20. Receiving money for earning all A’s on a report card.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
21. A child who wrote on the wall is smacked on the butt and scolded.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
22. Tina’s mom said she can use the car after she finishes her homework.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
23. A child wants a cookie, but mommy will not let the child have it until all the food is eaten from the child’s plate.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
24. Betty spanked her son for throwing a tantrum and he was reluctant to have another one.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
25. Whenever you are in a class at school and you are bored, you doodle.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
26. When I was in 6th grade I got into a fight with a boy. Our punishment was to write 500 words on why you shouldn’t fight in school.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
27. When my daughter was two years old and I was trying to potty train her, every time that she would go on the potty I would give her 2 skittles. She always wanted skittles and I rarely ever gave her candy so it was always a treat when she would get them. I only gave them to her if she went on the potty.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
28. When my dog, Jayke, was a puppy, I would ask him to sit. When he did, I would give him a treat, tell him “good boy,” and give a little pat on the head.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
29. Making one of the kids I watch sit in time-out because he or she was not listening.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
30. Losing social time with his friends helped my son realize the importance of wearing his retainer.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
31. When kids avoid police officers because of a fear of authority figures that developed in childhood.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
32. To make their kids stop acting out, parents take their children to police officers and say, “Be good or that man will lock you up.”
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
33. Getting a spanking when I was misbehaving.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
34. Military schools across the nation make cadets walk bullring for getting too many demerits in a week.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
35. Bill hit the dog to stop the dog from barking.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
36. Not being able to keep her room clean, my daughter lost the use of the car for a week.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
37. At work, my manager is a real “stickler” on not using your cell phones during work hours. I work at a bank and when it’s not busy we usually are using our phones. Last Monday, my manager had a meeting with all employees and she informed us that if we are caught using our cell phones then we will be written up immediately (being written up too many times could result in being fired).
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
38. Stacy got cat-called repeatedly at gas stations, and now she avoids going to them (probably by asking friends and relatives to gas up her car for her, or by taking the bus, or riding her bike, etc. instead).
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
39. Victor can join the party but only after he cuts the grass.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
40. After being soaked at a football game, I remembered my umbrella the rest of the season.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
41. You apply aloe to get rid of the pain from a sunburn.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
42. A child starts to make a mess at a restaurant. Mommy gives her a phone to distract her.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
43. Training and eating right, I finally won my first 5k.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
44. After being suspended from school for drinking, a classmate learned not to drink on school property.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
45. A child knows they can get your attention when they cry even though there is nothing wrong.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
46. Going to Prom is draining on a savings account.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
47. When I go to the beach, I put sunscreen on all the time and a few times a day. I do this to avoid getting a sunburn.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
48. When I am teaching my dog “Lucky” to obey commands and perform tricks, and he gets rewarded with a treat for doing to right thing.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
49. The baby of the family cried when she lost the game and the older kids got yelled at.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
50. The coach told us that if we show up for practice every time all season, we will get to play at least three games by the end of the season.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
51. I was late to my doctor appointment so I took the back way from work passing schools. There were no buses or children around, however the 15 MPH sign was on, and I ignored it. Just my luck, I was pulled over right past the school and received a $55 speeding ticket.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
52. A child who skipped school, must stay late for a week at detention.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
53. Getting $100 to wake up at two thirty in the morning to drive my cousin to the hospital in Greenville, NC which is two hours away.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
54. Recently I had a kidney stone that sent me to the hospital for a few days. After returning home, I needed to continue to take pain medicine for the pain.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
55. A child sees a cookie, and wants it but does not take it. Mommy eats the cookie thinking the child doesn’t want it.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
56. A child starts to make a mess at a restaurant. Mommy takes everything away from her (food, cup, utensils, napkin etc.).
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
57. Whenever you are speeding and you get a ticket for it.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
58. Showing up for practice all season doesn’t guarantee you any play time on the field at game time.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.
59. The baby of the family cried when she lost a game one time and the other kids made fun of her. Now she never wants to play any games with the other kids.
A) Positive Reinforcement.
B) Negative Reinforcement.
C) Positive Punishment.
D) Negative Punishment.
E) None of the above.

End of Quiz!

Your score out of 100%: %

The correct answers are marked by a "C" in the box before each question. The incorrect questions are marked by an "X".