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Indiscriminable Contingencies Quiz: Think You Can Ace It?

Ready to Explore Learning Contingencies in Psychology? Start the Quiz!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Somya SinghalUpdated Aug 27, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for psychology quiz on indiscriminable contingencies on teal background

This quiz helps you practice spotting indiscriminable contingencies and predict likely behavior in simple, real-life setups. Use it to check gaps before a psych exam or to sharpen your grasp of operant conditioning in minutes. When you're done, keep learning with our behavior basics quiz or browse more psychology quizzes .

Which of the following best defines an indiscriminable contingency in operant conditioning?
A schedule where reinforcement is signaled by a distinct cue before it is delivered.
A schedule in which the exact timing or requirements for reinforcement are unpredictable to the subject.
A schedule that only delivers reinforcement after a fixed amount of time has passed.
A continuous reinforcement schedule with every response rewarded.
An indiscriminable contingency is characterized by unpredictability: subjects cannot tell when reinforcement will occur based solely on observable stimuli. This contrasts with discriminable contingencies, where cues signal when reinforcement is available. Indiscriminable schedules often produce steady and persistent response rates. For more, see .
Which reinforcement schedule is the most classic example of an indiscriminable contingency?
Fixed interval schedule
Variable ratio schedule
Fixed ratio schedule
Fixed duration schedule
Variable ratio schedules deliver reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses, making the contingency indiscriminable. Subjects cannot predict when the next reinforcement will occur, which produces high and steady rates of responding. This is the principle behind slot machines and certain gambling behaviors. See .
What is a common behavioral effect of indiscriminable contingencies compared to discriminable contingencies?
Lower response rate and frequent pauses
Higher response rate and greater persistence
Immediate cessation of responding between trials
Complete extinction without reinforcement
Indiscriminable contingencies, like variable ratio schedules, typically produce high, steady rates of responding and greater resistance to extinction. Because the subject cannot predict reinforcement, they often respond persistently. In contrast, discriminable contingencies often yield pauses or scalloped patterns. Reference: .
Which type of contingency involves signaling the start and end of a reinforcement period with explicit cues?
Discriminable contingency
Variable schedule contingency
Indiscriminable contingency
Continuous contingency
Discriminable contingencies use explicit cues (e.g., lights or tones) to signal when responses will be reinforced. This allows subjects to discriminate between periods when reinforcement is available and when it is not. Indiscriminable contingencies lack these signals. For details, see .
Which of the following is NOT an example of an indiscriminable contingency?
Variable interval schedule for checking email
Fixed interval timer where a light indicates when reward is available
Slot machine payouts based on variable ratio
Random time schedule providing reinforcement unpredictably
When a light indicates that a fixed interval has passed, that is a discriminable contingency because the cue signals availability. Indiscriminable contingencies, like variable ratio or variable interval without cues, lack such signals and are unpredictable. More: .
In behavioral terms, what does the term scallop refer to?
A pause-and-burst pattern typical of fixed interval schedules
The unpredictability in a variable ratio schedule
A complete stop of behavior after extinction
A steady high rate of responding
A scallop pattern is the characteristic pause-and-burst response seen in fixed interval schedules, where responding increases just before reinforcement is available. This pattern does not occur under indiscriminable contingencies. See .
Which characteristic is most associated with an indiscriminable contingency?
Uncertainty about when reinforcement is available
Clear start and stop cues
Predictable pauses
Extinction easily signaled
Indiscriminable contingencies produce uncertainty because reinforcement timing or requirements are not signaled. This unpredictability often sustains high response rates. They differ from discriminable contingencies where start/stop cues are clear. More info: .
Which schedule would you use to produce a rapid, steady rate of responding that resists extinction?
Fixed interval 30-second
Fixed ratio 10
Fixed duration schedule
Variable ratio schedule
Variable ratio schedules are highly effective at producing rapid, steady behavior that persists even when reinforcement stops. Because the subject cannot predict the next reinforcement, responding remains high. This is a hallmark of an indiscriminable contingency. Reference: .
How does a mixed schedule differ from a multiple schedule in operant conditioning?
Mixed schedules have no discriminative stimuli signaling schedule changes; multiple schedules do.
Mixed schedules are continuous; multiple schedules are intermittent.
Mixed schedules always involve time-based reinforcement; multiple schedules involve ratio schedules.
Mixed schedules use different reinforcers; multiple schedules use the same reinforcer.
In a mixed schedule, two or more contingencies alternate without any external cues, making them indiscriminable. In a multiple schedule, each component is signaled by a distinct discriminative stimulus. This difference affects how the subject perceives and responds to changes in reinforcement. See .
Which of the following factors tends to make a contingency more indiscriminable?
Delivering continuous reinforcement
Using a fixed interval with a start signal
Providing a clear signal when reinforcement is available
Using a highly variable schedule with no external cues
High variability and lack of external cues make contingencies indiscriminable. When subjects cannot detect patterns or signals, they cannot predict reinforcement, which increases unpredictability. This is characteristic of variable schedules without discriminative stimuli. More at .
Why might behavior analysts use an indiscriminable contingency during schedule thinning?
To increase the discriminability of the reinforcement period
To rapidly extinguish the target behavior
To signal the exact moment of reinforcement delivery
To maintain steady responding despite longer intervals between reinforcements
During schedule thinning, making contingencies indiscriminable helps keep response rates steady as reinforcement becomes less frequent. Subjects continue responding because they cannot predict when the next reward will come. This maintains behavior while reducing reinforcement density. See .
In the context of indiscriminable contingencies, what does 'hidden ratio' refer to?
A fixed ratio disguised as continuous reinforcement
An interval schedule embedded within another schedule
A ratio schedule signaled by a tone
A variable ratio requirement that is not externally signaled
A hidden ratio is a variable ratio contingency that is not signaled by discriminative stimuli, making reinforcement unpredictable. Respondents must persist because they cannot detect when the requirement will be met. This is a common form of indiscriminable contingency. More info: .
Which phenomenon illustrates the persistence of behavior under an indiscriminable contingency even after reinforcement stops?
Behavioral momentum
Spontaneous recovery
Response shaping
Stimulus generalization
Behavioral momentum describes how behavior maintained under rich or unpredictable reinforcement persists when conditions change, similar to a physical object's inertia. Indiscriminable contingencies contribute to high momentum because subjects continue responding despite delays or omissions. See .
What distinguishes a tandem schedule that creates an indiscriminable contingency?
It chains two or more schedules without discriminative stimuli for transitions
It provides a clear signal between schedule components
It only uses time-based components
It is identical to a multiple schedule
Tandem schedules link two or more reinforcement schedules in sequence without distinct discriminative stimuli, making the overall contingency indiscriminable. Subjects cannot tell when one component has ended and the next begins, so they persist in responding. For more, visit .
How does an unpredictable ratio schedule impact extinction resistance compared to a fixed ratio schedule?
It produces weaker extinction resistance
It has no effect on extinction
It accelerates extinction
It produces stronger extinction resistance
Unpredictable (variable) ratio schedules generate greater resistance to extinction than fixed ratio schedules because subjects learn that persistence pays off. The lack of predictability means behavior continues longer even when reinforcement is withheld. See .
Which statement about indiscriminable and discriminable contingencies is TRUE?
Only discriminable contingencies can be used in applied settings.
Indiscriminable contingencies are signaled by tones or lights.
Discriminable contingencies always produce higher response rates than indiscriminable ones.
Indiscriminable contingencies remove external cues signaling when reinforcement is available.
Indiscriminable contingencies lack discriminative stimuli, so subjects cannot tell when they are under reinforcement availability. Discriminable contingencies use cues like lights or sounds to signal each component. Both can be used in experimental and applied settings. For details, see .
Which pattern of behavior would you expect under a mixed FI 30-s FI 60-s schedule?
Complete extinction after 60 s
High steady responding with no pauses
Two alternating scallops based on silent transitions
Discrete scallops every 30 s
A mixed FI 30-s FI 60-s schedule alternates between two fixed intervals without signals. Subjects produce scalloped patterns corresponding to each interval, but because no cues mark the switch, the scallops are merged or altered. See .
In research on intermittent reinforcement, why are indiscriminable contingencies thought to enhance superstitious behaviors?
Because discriminative stimuli are too salient
Because reinforcement is always immediate
Because the unpredictability leads subjects to associate coincidental actions with outcomes
Because subjects learn exact rules for reinforcement
Under indiscriminable schedules, reinforcement timing is unpredictable, so organisms may falsely attribute accidental behaviors to reinforcement, fostering superstitions. This was famously shown in Skinners pigeon studies. Refer to .
What distinguishes a random-ratio schedule from a VR schedule in practice?
VR schedules use time-based intervals.
Random-ratio never uses reinforcement after a fixed number of responses.
Random-ratio signals each ratio requirement externally.
Random-ratio and VR schedules are identical concepts.
Random-ratio is simply another term for variable-ratio; both refer to reinforcement after an unpredictable number of responses. Neither provides external signals, making them indiscriminable contingencies. See .
Which of the following best describes the schedule control within an undiscriminated chain schedule?
Only the terminal link is indiscriminable
Each link is signaled by its own discriminative stimulus
Links proceed without stimuli, making the overall contingency indiscriminable
It alternates randomly between ratio and interval schedules signaled by lights
In an undiscriminated chain schedule, one schedule follows another without distinct cues, so the subject cannot tell which link is active. This creates an indiscriminable contingency until reinforcement is delivered at the end. More at .
In applied behavior analysis, why might indiscriminable contingencies be less preferred for skill acquisition?
They accelerate learning too much
They are too easy for learners to understand
They provide too much discriminative control
They can make it difficult to shape precise behaviors due to unpredictability
For teaching new skills, discriminable contingencies with clear signals help learners know when they are being reinforced. Indiscriminable contingencies, by contrast, can obscure the connection between response and reinforcement, complicating shaping. See .
Which experimental finding supports the idea that indiscriminable contingencies produce resistance to change?
High response persistence during schedule thinning in variable schedules
Fluctuating response patterns in fixed interval schedules
Rapid extinction of behavior under VR schedules
Immediate decrease in responding when cues are removed
Studies show that when variable schedules are thinned or reinforcement is delayed, behavior persists longer compared to fixed schedules. This demonstrates resistance to change under indiscriminable contingencies. See .
In a concurrent chain schedule with no distinguishing stimuli, what guides the subjects choice behavior?
Relative reinforcement history and delay
Distinct cues for each branch
Auditory signals marking transitions
Visual cues on the response keys
Without discriminative stimuli, choices in concurrent chain schedules depend on the subjects learned history of reinforcement rates and delays. They cannot use external cues, so they rely on internal memory of which option yielded more or faster reinforcement. More: .
When designing an indiscriminable tandem schedule to reduce a clients problematic pacing behavior, which of the following modifications would best maintain high levels of responding while thinning reinforcement?
Deliver noncontingent reinforcement at fixed time intervals
Increase the variability of the response requirement across segments without external cues
Switch to a fixed ratio schedule and provide intermittent cues
Introduce a discriminative stimulus at the start of each tandem segment
To maintain pacing under an indiscriminable tandem schedule, increasing variability in the response requirement without signals preserves unpredictability and sustains responding as reinforcement thins. Adding discriminative stimuli would make it discriminable, and fixed ratio or noncontingent schedules change the contingency. For guidance, see .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Define indiscriminable contingencies -

    Articulate the core characteristics of indiscriminable contingencies and distinguish them from other operant conditioning contingencies.

  2. Identify indiscriminable contingencies examples -

    Recognize real-world and theoretical examples of indiscriminable contingencies to deepen your grasp of learning contingencies in psychology.

  3. Differentiate types of contingencies -

    Distinguish between indiscriminable contingencies and other types of behavioral contingencies to clarify their unique functions in operant conditioning.

  4. Analyze behavioral contingencies definitions -

    Critically examine and compare key definitions of behavioral contingencies to reinforce accurate use of psychology terminology.

  5. Apply concepts to quiz scenarios -

    Use your knowledge of indiscriminable contingencies to solve challenging quiz questions and test your practical understanding.

  6. Evaluate your psychology IQ -

    Assess your mastery of indiscriminable contingencies through scored feedback and boost your confidence in core behavioral concepts.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Defining Indiscriminable Contingencies -

    Indiscriminable contingencies involve reinforcement or punishment delivered unpredictably, so learners can't pinpoint which response produced the outcome (Journal of Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1960). This core definition in learning contingencies in psychology underscores why behaviors under these schedules are so persistent. Use the mnemonic R.I.D.E. (Random, Intermittent, Difficult to pin down, Enduring) to lock in the concept.

  2. Partial Reinforcement and Schedules -

    Operant conditioning contingencies often use partial reinforcement schedules - ratio or interval - to create indiscriminable contingencies that maintain high response rates (Skinner, 1957). Variable-ratio (VR) schedules, like VR-5, reward on average every fifth response but unpredictably, driving vigorous performance. Remember "VR = Very Relentless" to link variable-ratio with persistent behavior.

  3. Indiscriminable Contingencies Examples -

    Classic indiscriminable contingencies examples include slot machines (VR schedule) and surprise quizzes (VI schedule), where reinforcement timing or amount is unknown (Harvard University, 2018). These real-world scenarios tap into the same psychological mechanisms studied in labs and illustrate why gamblers and students stay engaged. Picture a slot lever that sometimes pays off - that's your everyday indiscriminable contingency in action!

  4. Effects on Resistance to Extinction -

    Behaviors conditioned under indiscriminable contingencies show remarkable resistance to extinction compared to continuous schedules (Partial Reinforcement Extinction Effect, PRE, 1951). The unpredictability makes learners expect "the next time could be the one," so they keep responding despite non-reinforcement. Think "PRE = Perseverance Really Endures" to recall why persistence spikes.

  5. Identifying and Modifying Contingencies -

    To assess indiscriminable contingencies, map response - reinforcement delays and variances using behavioral logs or software like BOSS (Behavioral Observation System Software, University of Florida). You can then design discriminative stimuli or thin schedules gradually to reintroduce predictability and reduce unwanted persistence. An easy cue: use colored signals (S+) when reinforcement is available to shift from indiscriminable to discriminable contingencies.

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