Which one of the following best describes shaping?
A)Reinforcement becomes gradually stronger over time.
B)Reinforcement is weaned away over time, until a student is doing something without being reinforced.
C)The behavior being reinforced changes over time so that it increasingly resembles the desired terminal behavior.
D)Praise is the only reinforcer used but the specific things that are said to a student change as the student improves.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping involves reinforcing successive approximations of a desired behavior, gradually guiding the behavior towards the desired terminal response. In other words, the behavior being reinforced changes over time so that it increasingly resembles the desired behavior. Choice A describes the concept of strengthening reinforcement, not shaping. Choice B describes the concept of fading reinforcement, not shaping. Choice D describes a different type of reinforcement, praise, and does not accurately describe shaping.

Which One of the Following Best Describes Shaping