In operant conditioning, modifications to reinforcement and punishment can influence behavior. Which of the following modifications to reinforcement would increase the likelihood of a behavior occurring again?
I. Reinforcing the behavior as quickly as possible after it occurs.
II. Providing a reward that is appropriate and desirable for the organism.
III. Punishing a desired behavior consistently.

• A. I & II.
• B. II & III.
• C. I & III
• D. I, II, & III.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is a learning process where behaviors are influenced by their consequences. Reinforcement increases the likelihood of a behavior occurring again, while punishment decreases it.
2. Step 2: Analyze the first statement (I). Reinforcing the behavior as quickly as possible after it occurs is a principle of effective reinforcement. Immediate reinforcement strengthens the association between the behavior and the reward, making it more likely to occur again.
3. Step 3: Analyze the second statement (II). Providing a reward that is appropriate and desirable for the organism is crucial for reinforcement to be effective. If the reward is not meaningful or desirable, it will not motivate the organism to repeat the behavior.
4. Step 4: Analyze the third statement (III). Punishing a desired behavior consistently contradicts the goal of reinforcement. Punishment decreases the likelihood of a behavior, so it would not increase the likelihood of a desired behavior occurring again.
5. Step 5: Combine the analysis. Based on the principles of operant conditioning, only statements I and II align with the goal of increasing the likelihood of a behavior occurring again. Therefore, the correct answer is I & II.