Page |1
PSYC 2440 Final Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What is behaviour generally
Ans: behaviour is anything that a person says or does
what is behaviour technically
Ans: behaviour is any muscular, glandular or electrical activity
of an organism
give three synonyms for behaviour
Ans: action, activity and performance
Describe two dimensions of behaviour and give an example of each
Ans: the duration - how long the behaviour lasts.
- example: she ran for 30 min
the frequency - how many times the behaviour is performed
within a specific time frame
- example: he swam 10 laps in 5 minutes. 10 laps would be the
frequency
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
What is a behavioural deficit? give two examples
Ans: - too little of a type of behaviour
- ex. not studying enough for an exam, not exercising enough
to maintain good health
What is a behavioural excess? Give two examples.
Ans: too much of a particular type of behaviour
- smoking, drinking large amounts of alcohol, teenager lying
excessively
Define behaviour modification
Ans: the systematic application of learning principles and
techniques to assess and improve individual's overt and covert
behaviours in order to enhance their daily functioning.
State seven characteristics of modification
Ans: 1. emphasis on defining problems in terms of behaviours
that can be measured in some way and using changes in the
behavioural measure of the problem as the best indicator of the
extent to which the problem is being helped
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
2. its treatment procedures and techniques are ways of altering
an individual's current environment to help that individual
function more fully
3. the methods and rationales can be described precisely
4. the techniques of behavioural mod are often applied by
individuals in everyday life
5. the techniques stem from research in the science of learning
in general and the principles of operant and p \Pavlovian
conditioning in particular
6. behaviour mod. emphasizes scientific demonstration t hat a
particular intervention was responsible for a particular
behaviour change.
7. Behaviour mod. also places high value on accountability for
everyone involved in the programs including staff, clients,
consultants etc.
Define behavioural assessment
Ans: involves the collection and analysis of information and
data in order to:
a) identify and describe target behaviours
b) identify possible causes of behaviour
c) guide the selection of an appropriate behavioural treatment
d) evaluate treatment outcome
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Briefly describe B. F. Skinner's influence on early behaviour
modification
Ans: BF Skinner distinguished between pavlovian conditioning
and operant conditioning. Pavlovian conditioning involves
reflexes - automatic responses to prior stimuli - while operant
conditioning is based on consequences (rewards and
punishments etc. ).
He influence many other psychologists to follow his lead and
apply operant conditioning in a variety of ways. later these
applications began to be referred to as behaviour modification.
List four myths or misconceptions about behaviour modification
Ans: 1. use of rewards by behaviour mod. to change behaviour
is bribery
2. behaviour modification involves the use of drugs,
psychosurgery, and electroconvulsive therapy
3.behaviour mod changes only symptoms but doesn't get at the
underlying problems
4. behaviour mod. can be applied to deal with simple problems
such as toilet training or overcoming fear of heights but not
applicable for changing complex problems such as low self-
esteem or depression
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
PSYC 2440 Final Questions and Correct
Answers/ Latest Update / Already Graded
What is behaviour generally
Ans: behaviour is anything that a person says or does
what is behaviour technically
Ans: behaviour is any muscular, glandular or electrical activity
of an organism
give three synonyms for behaviour
Ans: action, activity and performance
Describe two dimensions of behaviour and give an example of each
Ans: the duration - how long the behaviour lasts.
- example: she ran for 30 min
the frequency - how many times the behaviour is performed
within a specific time frame
- example: he swam 10 laps in 5 minutes. 10 laps would be the
frequency
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |2
What is a behavioural deficit? give two examples
Ans: - too little of a type of behaviour
- ex. not studying enough for an exam, not exercising enough
to maintain good health
What is a behavioural excess? Give two examples.
Ans: too much of a particular type of behaviour
- smoking, drinking large amounts of alcohol, teenager lying
excessively
Define behaviour modification
Ans: the systematic application of learning principles and
techniques to assess and improve individual's overt and covert
behaviours in order to enhance their daily functioning.
State seven characteristics of modification
Ans: 1. emphasis on defining problems in terms of behaviours
that can be measured in some way and using changes in the
behavioural measure of the problem as the best indicator of the
extent to which the problem is being helped
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |3
2. its treatment procedures and techniques are ways of altering
an individual's current environment to help that individual
function more fully
3. the methods and rationales can be described precisely
4. the techniques of behavioural mod are often applied by
individuals in everyday life
5. the techniques stem from research in the science of learning
in general and the principles of operant and p \Pavlovian
conditioning in particular
6. behaviour mod. emphasizes scientific demonstration t hat a
particular intervention was responsible for a particular
behaviour change.
7. Behaviour mod. also places high value on accountability for
everyone involved in the programs including staff, clients,
consultants etc.
Define behavioural assessment
Ans: involves the collection and analysis of information and
data in order to:
a) identify and describe target behaviours
b) identify possible causes of behaviour
c) guide the selection of an appropriate behavioural treatment
d) evaluate treatment outcome
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
, Page |4
Briefly describe B. F. Skinner's influence on early behaviour
modification
Ans: BF Skinner distinguished between pavlovian conditioning
and operant conditioning. Pavlovian conditioning involves
reflexes - automatic responses to prior stimuli - while operant
conditioning is based on consequences (rewards and
punishments etc. ).
He influence many other psychologists to follow his lead and
apply operant conditioning in a variety of ways. later these
applications began to be referred to as behaviour modification.
List four myths or misconceptions about behaviour modification
Ans: 1. use of rewards by behaviour mod. to change behaviour
is bribery
2. behaviour modification involves the use of drugs,
psychosurgery, and electroconvulsive therapy
3.behaviour mod changes only symptoms but doesn't get at the
underlying problems
4. behaviour mod. can be applied to deal with simple problems
such as toilet training or overcoming fear of heights but not
applicable for changing complex problems such as low self-
esteem or depression
All rights reserved © 2025/ 2026 |
