Which of the following scenarios describes a primary reinforcer?

• A. An employee is praised by their manager for arriving early.
• B. A child receives a piece of chocolate after cleaning their room.
• C. A teenager earns points toward a gift card for volunteering.
• D. A student gets extra recess time for completing their homework.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of a primary reinforcer. A primary reinforcer is a stimulus that is naturally reinforcing because it satisfies a biological need, such as food, water, or warmth, without any prior learning.
2. Step 2: Identify the examples given in the problem and classify each reinforcer as primary or secondary. For instance, praise from a manager is a social reward and typically considered a secondary reinforcer because it requires learning to be valued.
3. Step 3: Analyze the scenario where a child receives a piece of chocolate after cleaning their room. Chocolate is a food item that satisfies a biological need or desire, making it a primary reinforcer.
4. Step 4: Review the other scenarios: earning points toward a gift card and getting extra recess time are both examples of secondary reinforcers because their value is learned through association with primary reinforcers or other rewards.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the scenario involving the child receiving chocolate is the correct example of a primary reinforcer, as it directly satisfies a biological need without requiring prior learning.