Suppose that you are trying to teach a child how to write the letter "D."At first you praise her for just writing anything on a piece of paper. Gradually, though, you praise her only as her scribbles begin to look more and more like the letter "D."The method you are using to teach the child to write is
A) classical conditioning.
B) shaping by successive approximations.
C) negative reinforcement.
D) response cost.
E) fading.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Shaping by successive approximations involves reinforcing behaviors that are progressively closer to the target behavior, which in this case is writing the letter "D." This method is being used as the child receives praise (reinforcement) for scribbles that increasingly resemble the letter "D."

Suppose That You Are Trying to Teach a Child How