When a student gives a thoughtful answer that goes beyond the information in the textbook, teacher Kimba Wood has the class stand and run in place for a few seconds. Thoughtful answers have increased in the class. Running in place appears to be functioning as
A) punishment.
B) negative reinforcement.
C) reinforcement.
D) an unconditioned stimulus.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Running in place after a thoughtful answer is an example of reinforcement. By giving positive feedback through physical activity, the teacher is encouraging students to continue to give thoughtful answers. This is different from punishment (A) or negative reinforcement (B), which involve adding negative consequences to behavior to decrease the likelihood of that behavior happening again. The exercise is not an unconditioned stimulus (D) as it is a deliberate action taken by the teacher, not an automatic response.

When a Student Gives a Thoughtful Answer That Goes Beyond