2007 VCAA exam questions

[michael364]

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Nguyen’s dog, Yap, barks whenever he sees a cat. Nguyen yells at the dog.
Question 35
Nguyen is hoping to change the dog’s behaviour through applying
A. punishment.
B. negative reinforcement.
C. positive reinforcement.
D. observational learning.

Question 36

Despite successfully learning not to bark, two months later Nguyen’s dog, Yap, begins to bark again at cats.
The most accurate term for this behaviour is
A. stimulus discrimination.
B. spontaneous recovery.
C. stimulus generalisation.
D. extinction.

question 36 is the one i need help with, it may seem pretty simple but just listen to my argument
ok, first off the answer to this question is B (spontaneous recovery) however i would argue that the answer is D(extinction)
we all know that spontaneous recovery is the return of a conditioned response, and in this situation the learned response is not barking at the sight of the cat. so, if the dog begins barking again it must mean that the original behaviour of not barking has become extinct. for this to be spontaneous recovery, the dog would have had to have stopped barking again after a period of barking again.

hope that makes some sense, just need everyone elses opinion.

[Martoman]

This is a typical example of what I used to do (to which my teacher had to wean me off it). This is simply over-thinking a question set by VCAA, who in themselves aren't the best at setting good, unambiguous questions (MRI + pacemaker in mid year anyone?). Simply think what they are testing in the study design, usually if its a multi-choice and the answer is apparent (ie: B seems obvious) then usually in psych that is the right answer. Additionally, your argument is a plausible one, however given the fact that 76% got it right in 07, VCAA took it no further.
Regards,
D

[Streaker]

Originally Posted by michael364

Nguyen’s dog, Yap, barks whenever he sees a cat. Nguyen yells at the dog.
Question 35
Nguyen is hoping to change the dog’s behaviour through applying
A. punishment.
B. negative reinforcement.
C. positive reinforcement.
D. observational learning.

Question 36

Despite successfully learning not to bark, two months later Nguyen’s dog, Yap, begins to bark again at cats.
The most accurate term for this behaviour is
A. stimulus discrimination.
B. spontaneous recovery.
C. stimulus generalisation.
D. extinction.

question 36 is the one i need help with, it may seem pretty simple but just listen to my argument
ok, first off the answer to this question is B (spontaneous recovery) however i would argue that the answer is D(extinction)
we all know that spontaneous recovery is the return of a conditioned response, and in this situation the learned response is not barking at the sight of the cat. so, if the dog begins barking again it must mean that the original behaviour of not barking has become extinct. for this to be spontaneous recovery, the dog would have had to have stopped barking again after a period of barking again.

hope that makes some sense, just need everyone elses opinion.

Ok you need to keep in mind that operant conditioning procedures were used on this dog (i.e. in the form of punishment). You also need to remember that punishment does not provide an alternative response, it merely discourages undesired behaviour. The fact that it provides no alternatives response is grounds to believe that the dog did not actually learn anything new, he just stopped barking at the cat (or he may have learned something else which isn't mentioned in the question).

Your argument is valid for classical conditioning but not operant conditioning. I'm guessing that the sheer stupidity of majority of Victorians got them over the line in this question (e.g. they assumed that a barking response that "reappears" is immediately spontaneous recovery).

Remember to read the question carefully and identify the type of conditioning used. I wouldn't rely on the post above either. It's better to have a firm grip of the knowledge and be cautious in the exam rather than making these risky assumptions.

Good luck everyone, it's tomorrow

[MarcusW]

haha, this what what i was gonna ask myself...i went thru the exact same reasoning process as OP for this question...as in, the changed behaviour (not barking) had become extinct...so i also put extinction. yep..im gonna agree that vcaa could not be bothered making 6% of students right and 76% of students wrong.

[MarcusW]

haha, this what what i was gonna ask myself...i went thru the exact same reasoning process as OP for this question...as in, the changed behaviour (not barking) had become extinct...so i also put extinction. yep..im gonna agree that vcaa could not be bothered making 6% of students right and 76% of students wrong. neway good luck all.

PS. sorry for double post....sent in once..internal server error but it went thru neway...but clicked again