Download 1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning

Question Date /
Number
January 2009 1(a)
June 2009 1 (b) (i)
June 2009 1 (b) (ii)
June 2009 1 (c)
January 2011 1 (a) (i)
January 2011 1 (a) (ii)
January 2010 1 (b) (i)
January 2010 1 (b) (ii)
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SHORT ANSWER TEST MARK SCHEME (NOTE THIS IS AVAILABLE ONLINE COMPLETE WITH
EXAMINERS COMMENTARY)
1 (a) What do behaviourists mean by the term operant conditioning? Give an example of how operant
conditioning might be used to train an animal (3 marks)
[AO1 = 1, AO2 = 2]
AO1 One mark for correct definition of the term.
Possible answer: Operant conditioning refers to behaviours learnt as a result of reinforcement/environmental
consequences (AO1, 1)
Credit other appropriate alternatives eg, negative reinforcement; punishment, etc.
AO2 Up to two marks for an appropriate example of how operant conditioning is used in training an animal.
One mark for demonstration of the behaviour being conditioned.
One mark for reinforcement of the behaviour.
1 (b) (i) What is meant by classical conditioning? (1 mark)
[1 mark: AO1 = 1]
AO1 One mark for correct definition of the term eg learning by association, stimulusresponse
learning, brief description of process or key features.
1 (b) (ii) Briefly outline how researchers, such as Pavlov, have investigated classical
conditioning.(2 marks)
AO3 Candidates may provide a generic response through methods of research eg experimentation or a more
specific response eg the process involved within a particular study.
Possible answer: Pavlov researched classical conditioning by pairing a CS with an
UCS – he rang a bell at the same time he presented food to the dog (AO3, 1). After repeated pairings, Pavlov
found that by merely ringing the bell (CS), the dog salivated
(CR) (AO3, 1). Credit diagrammatic representation.
1 (c) Jake has a very stressful job. He is often late home from work and hardly gets any sleep. One
night, Jake is so stressed and angry that he punches a door. Jake comes from a violent family.
Suggest how a biological psychologist and a behavioural psychologist might explain
Jake’s violent behaviour.(4 marks)
[4 marks: AO3 = 4]
AO3 Candidates should receive credit for knowledge of the approaches and are not
expected to demonstrate detailed knowledge of aggression.
Biological: One mark for brief or muddled explanation.
Two marks for an accurate and detailed explanation.
Likely answers: testosterone; aggression as an evolutionary trait, genetics; heritability, etc.
Behaviourist: One mark for brief or muddled explanation.
Two marks for an accurate and detailed explanation.
Likely answers: learning by association; principles of operant conditioning; reinforcement.
Credit answers that may refer to the principles of SLT.
1 (a) (i) What do social learning theorists mean by mediating cognitive factors? (1 mark)
[AO1 = 1]
AO1 One mark for a correct answer eg, the thought processes that lie between stimulus and response/internal
mental processes. Do not credit specific processes eg thinking, attention, memory, perception, language
1 (a) (ii) Suggest one methodological problem that might arise when investigating mediating cognitive factors.(1
mark)
[AO3 = 1]
AO3 One mark for an appropriate suggestion eg lack of objectivity/unobservable/has to be inferred/issue of
validity/modern methods require specialist technology, etc.
1 (b) (i) Outline what is meant by evolution.(2 marks)
[AO1 = 2]
AO1 Up to two marks for each relevant point.
Likely answers: gradual change in inherited traits of a species over many generations; adaptation to the
environment; natural selection; survival of the fittest, etc.
Credit any relevant example as an expansion point.
Credit appropriate alternative answers.
1 (b) (ii) Explain how one human or non-human behaviour may have resulted from the process of
evolution (2 marks)
[AO2 = 2]
AO2 Up to two marks for an explanation of how an appropriate behaviour may have resulted from the process of
evolution.
The response may focus on the advantage the behaviour has given e.g. survival, mating, continuation of the
genes.
Likely behaviours: rooting reflex; sexual selection/mate preferences; parental investment; bonding/attachment
behaviours; aggression, animal displays of behaviour; territoriality etc.