The principles of operant conditioning are best illustrated by which of the following scenarios?

• A. A student memorizes a list of words by repeating them over and over.
• B. A dog salivates when it hears a bell that has been repeatedly paired with food.
• C. A person becomes afraid of dogs after being bitten by one.
• D. A child receives a piece of candy for completing their homework, increasing the likelihood they will do homework again.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of operant conditioning, which is a learning process where behavior is influenced by its consequences, such as rewards or punishments.
2. Step 2: Identify that operant conditioning involves reinforcement (which increases behavior) or punishment (which decreases behavior), rather than just association between stimuli.
3. Step 3: Analyze each scenario to see if the behavior is being shaped by consequences (reinforcement or punishment) or by associations between stimuli (classical conditioning).
4. Step 4: Recognize that the scenario where a child receives a piece of candy for completing homework exemplifies positive reinforcement, as the reward increases the likelihood of the behavior repeating.
5. Step 5: Conclude that this scenario best illustrates operant conditioning because the behavior (doing homework) is directly influenced by a consequence (receiving candy).