An experimenter designs their experiment so that a reinforcer is delivered after a subject presses a bar in a Skinner box. To maximize conditioning, which delay interval (between the response and the delivery of the reinforcer) should be used?
A) 1 second
B) 2 second
C) 4 second
D) 8 second

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

To maximize conditioning, the delay interval between the response and the delivery of the reinforcer should be as short as possible. A delay of 1 second allows for immediate reinforcement, which strengthens the association between the behavior and the reinforcer. Longer delays (B, C, D) may decrease the effectiveness of the reinforcement and potentially result in weaker conditioning.

An Experimenter Designs Their Experiment So That a Reinforcer Is