Within the context of behaviorism, what type of intervention is discrete trial instruction?

• A. A cognitive intervention aimed at changing thought patterns
• B. A form of humanistic therapy focused on self-actualization
• C. A structured behavioral intervention based on operant conditioning principles
• D. A psychoanalytic technique for exploring unconscious motives

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the context of behaviorism, which focuses on observable behaviors and how they can be learned or modified through interactions with the environment.
2. Step 2: Recognize that discrete trial instruction (DTI) is a teaching method that breaks down skills into small, manageable components and uses repeated trials to teach these skills.
3. Step 3: Identify that DTI is based on operant conditioning principles, where behaviors are shaped and reinforced through consequences such as rewards or prompts.
4. Step 4: Compare the options given: cognitive interventions focus on thought patterns, humanistic therapy emphasizes self-actualization, and psychoanalytic techniques explore unconscious motives, none of which align with the structured, behavior-focused nature of DTI.
5. Step 5: Conclude that discrete trial instruction is best described as a structured behavioral intervention grounded in operant conditioning, making it a behaviorist approach to teaching and behavior modification.