This exercise is based upon Chapters 3-6 & 31 of the BALC Text and Skinner Chapter 2 & 3. You can use bullet points to answer your questions, but note that to fully answer each question, you’ll need to write the equivalent of at least two paragraphs. citations are appreciated. Know that not all answers are right or wrong. Some are open-ended and require your thoughts and opinions.
1. What is the difference between positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment? Provide real world examples of each from your life, the media, or observations.
2. An elementary school in Michigan has installed a couple of vending machines.
A 45 second video about the vending machine was posted on October 15 by WSBT channel 22 at this link: https://wsbt.com/news/local/hartford-michigan-school-enticing- kids-to-read-with-new-book-vending-machines. If you are not able to see the video please read the text below the video that contains the same information. Write an email to the producers explaining what you thought was misleading or inaccurate. Use the terms you are learning in class and explain them in a way that the public could understand.
3. Asking a student “Why did you do that?” intending to have the student explain their behavior can result in unsatisfactory responses. Describe ways to increase accurate and useful student reporting of their behavior or internal state.
4. Relate Skinner’s work in Chapters 2 & 3 to explain the behaviors of wearing a mask and keeping physical distance between people.
5. When a 10 year-old boy returns home from school, his parent provides multiple prompts to get the boy to initiate chores and homework. The teacher provides reminders at the end of the day. The tasks may get started, however, they are not always completed. More recently, the parent has removed access to electronics, and the teacher added in her reminder that a lunch time study period might be assigned if homework is
incomplete. What advice would you give to the parents about using positive reinforcement instead, including a rationale for why positive reinforcement might work better?
6. Consider a 3 year-old child that lives with a single parent and grandparent and attends a preschool in the afternoons. The behavior analyst provides ABA therapy three mornings a week and has identified toileting as the next skill to teach. Based upon the responsible conduct for behavior analysts, what ethical concerns should the behavior analyst address when putting together and implementing the program?
7. Using the “set of explanatory fictions” document in the resource, identify the highlight the explanatory fiction and rewrite tit o be behavioral:
a. After Sally answered a question correctly, the teacher reinforced her with praise.
b. It’s clear Mary was a good kid because of how responds to adults.
c. He is unable to answer wh questions.
d. He can’t pay attention because of his ADHD.
e. She elopes because she is attention seeking.