Learning revision2013

Unit 4 Revision
Area of Study 1
LEARNING
Friday, 20 September 2013

Learning can be defined as
any relatively permanent
change in behaviour that may
occur as a result of
experience.

Key Concepts

Key Concepts
Behaviours not dependent on learning

Key Concepts
Neural Development

Key Concepts
Neural Development
Plasticity

Key Concepts
Neural Development
Plasticity
Classical Conditioning

Key Concepts
Neural Development
Plasticity
Operant Conditioning

Key Concepts
Neural Development
Plasticity
Trial & Error

Key Concepts
Neural Development
Plasticity
Trial & Error
Observational Learning

Question 1
What is the difference between a reflex action
and a fixed action pattern?
(2 marks)

Suggested Solution
Explanation of difference should refer to:
• Reflex action is typically a single or simple
response, whereas a fixed action pattern is more
complex, usually consisting of a sequence of
responses.
• The same reflex action may be observed across
species, whereas a fixed action pattern is species-
specific.
Award 1 mark each for each point.

Question 2
Which of the following statement is true of neurotransmitters?
A. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that transmit impulses
between neurons
B. Neurotransmitters exist only in the brains of humans
C. Neurotransmitters have a nucleus
D. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that always excited
neighbouring neurons to fire electrically

Suggested Solution
Which of the following statement is true of neurotransmitters?
A. Neurotransmitters are the chemical messengers that transmit impulses
between neurons
B. Neurotransmitters exist only in the brains of humans
C. Neurotransmitters have a nucleus
D. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that always excited
neighbouring neurons to fire electrically

Question 3
Explain the meaning of the term 'adaptive brain
plasticity'. Use an example to demonstrate your
understanding of the concept.
(2 marks)

Suggested Solution
Explanation may refer to:
• change in neural structure/organisation to enable adjustment to
experience
• change in neural structure/organisation to compensate for lost function
or to maximise remaining function
May involve rerouting, whereby an undamaged neuron that has lost a
connection (due to damage of its connecting neuron) connects with a
different neuron (e.g. in an undamaged pathway) as a replacement, or
sprouting, which involves the growth of new, bushier connections on the
neuron's dendrites.
For example, lost movement of an index finger due to motor cortex
damage may be regained if motor cortex adjacent to the damaged area
assumes some control over that movement.
Award 1 mark for correctly explaining plasticity.
Award 1 mark for a relevant example.

Question 4
In the context of Pavlov's original experiments,
describe an example of spontaneous recovery.
(2 marks)

Suggested Solution
• The dog has been conditioned to salivate at the sound of the bell (metronome,
buzzer or similar), the bell being the conditioned stimulus (CS).
• Extinction occurs after repeated exposure to the CS without the
unconditioned stimulus (UCS), the food (meat, meat powder or other). That is,
the dog fails to produce the conditioned response (CR), salivating, upon
presentation of the CS alone without the UCS.
• After a time gap, the CS is presented again, without the presentation of the
UCS, but the CR (salivation) occurs.
• We say that it has spontaneously recovered; the CR re-occurs after it has
been previously extinguished.
Explanation of spontaneous recovery should refer to extinction [1
mark], followed by reappearance of the CR [1 mark].

Question 5
Define trial and error learning.
(2 marks)

Suggested Solution
Learning by trying alternative possibilities [1 mark]
until the desired outcome is achieved [1 mark]

Question 6
Vicki had not completed her Psychology homework. When she told her
teacher she had not done the homework, the teacher was very angry
and gave Vicki a detention. The next time Vicki had not done her
homework she lied and told her mother that she did not feel well so she
could stay home from school to complete the work.
She returned to school and was able to hand in the work without
getting a detention. Vicki then repeated the behaviour of staying home
each time she did not complete homework.
a. What type of learning is Vicki displaying when she avoids going to
school because she has not done her homework?
b. Explain your answer.
(3 marks)

Suggested Solution
a. Type of learning may be operant conditioning or avoidance learning. [1 mark]
b. Explanation should refer to:
• Vicki's behaviour of going to school without having done her homework was punished,
so the behaviour was not repeated.
• Vicki's behaviour of staying at home (when she has not completed her homework) is
reinforced because she feels good about avoiding detention, or, her behaviour of staying
at home (when she has not completed her homework) is reinforced because it avoids the
unpleasant consequence of detention.
Award 1 mark for identifying detention as punishment and 1 mark for noting that the
avoidance of detention, by staying home, has acted as a reinforcer.
VCAA Assessment Report note:
A common error was to identify the process as ‘one-trial learning'; however, it should be
emphasised that the study design specifies one-trial learning in the form of taste
aversion.

Question 7
Joe's parents want him to keep his room tidy and are using a method of
encouragement. Whenever his room is untidy, Joe is not permitted to watch
television until he tidies the room.
Joe's parents are using ________________ to modify his behaviour.
A. positive reinforcement
B. modelling
C. negative reinforcement
D. shaping

Suggested Solution
Joe's parents want him to keep his room tidy and are using a method of
encouragement. Whenever his room is untidy, Joe is not permitted to watch
television until he tidies the room.
Joe's parents are using ________________ to modify his behaviour.
A. positive reinforcement
B. modelling
C. negative reinforcement
D. shaping

Question 8
A soft-drink vending machine operates on a _____________ reinforcement
schedule, while a gaming machine operates on a _____________ reinforcement
schedule.
A. variable ratio; fixed interval
B. fixed ratio; variable interval
C. partial; continuous
D. continuous; partial

Suggested Solution
A soft-drink vending machine operates on a _____________ reinforcement
schedule, while a gaming machine operates on a _____________ reinforcement
schedule.
A. variable ratio; fixed interval
B. fixed ratio; variable interval
C. partial; continuous
D. continuous; partial

Question 9
In operant conditioning, the acquisition of a learned response occurs due
to ___________ , whereas in classical conditioning acquisition relies on
___________ .
A. the association of one stimulus with another; the reinforcement of a
desired response
B. the reinforcement of a desired response; the retention of a modelled
behaviour
C. the reinforcement of a desired response; the association of one stimulus
with another
D. retention of a modelled behaviour; the association of one stimulus with
another

Suggested Solution
In operant conditioning, the acquisition of a learned response occurs due
to ___________ , whereas in classical conditioning acquisition relies on
___________ .
A. the association of one stimulus with another; the reinforcement of a
desired response
B. the reinforcement of a desired response; the retention of a modelled
behaviour
C. the reinforcement of a desired response; the association of one stimulus
with another
D. retention of a modelled behaviour; the association of one stimulus with
another

Question 10
Before Alex had moved out of home, he'd never had to cook for himself. He
was keen to show that he could cope on his own and was pleasantly
surprised to discover that he actually knew how to cook quite well. He then
remembered that he often used to spend time in the kitchen watching his
mother while she was cooking.
i) What type of learning was used by Alex?
ii) Identify two key elements of this type of learning and explain how
they helped Alex learn to cook.
(3 marks)

Suggested Solution
Explanation may include the following.
i) observational learning or modelling
ii) a) attention — watching/observing his mother cook;
    b) retention — storing in memory what she did while cooking;
    c) reproduction — replicating (from memory) what his mother did
when trying to cook for himself;
     d) motivation — the desire to perform what was observed, or desire
to be independent/keen to show that he could cope.
     e) reinforcement — enjoying the meal he cooked and meeting the
standard of cooking he had set for himself.
Award 1 mark for correctly naming observational learning (or
modelling).
Award 1 mark for each of two elements named and explained correctly,
with reference to the scenario.

Learning revision2013

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