Sarah's parents are trying to use operant conditioning to toilet train her. Sarah is awarded three M&M candies every time she successfully uses the bathroom. For this technique to work most effectively, Sarah's parents should reinforce the desired behavior __________
A) immediately after each successful occasion.
B) after a short delay.
C) within thirty minutes of Sarah's using the bathroom.
D) when Sarah requests the candy.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Operant conditioning is most effective when the reinforcement is immediate, meaning that Sarah's parents should give her the M&M candies immediately after each successful occasion of using the bathroom. Delaying reinforcement or waiting for Sarah to request the candy may weaken the association between the desired behavior (using the bathroom) and the reward (M&M candies). Similarly, reinforcing the behavior within thirty minutes may still be effective, but the most efficient and effective method is to provide immediate reinforcement.

Sarah's Parents Are Trying to Use Operant Conditioning to Toilet