Any change in the environment that alters the effectiveness of some stimulus or event as reinforcement.

Any change in the environment that alters the effectiveness of some stimulus or event as reinforcement.

• A. Discriminative Stimulus (SD)
• B. Establishing Operation
• C. Positive Reinforcer
• D. Emitted

Answer: (B)

An establishing operation is a motivating operation that changes how reinforcing a stimulus can be. The statement describes any environmental change that alters the effectiveness of a consequence as reinforcement, which is exactly what an establishing operation does. By becoming deprived of a reinforcer (like food or water), that reinforcer’s value increases, making the behavior that has previously produced it more likely to occur. This is distinct from a discriminative stimulus, which signals that reinforcement is available; from a positive reinforcer, which is the actual stimulus that increases behavior when delivered; and from emitted behavior, which refers to the response itself rather than a change in reinforcer value.

An establishing operation is a motivating operation that changes how reinforcing a stimulus can be. The statement describes any environmental change that alters the effectiveness of a consequence as reinforcement, which is exactly what an establishing operation does. By becoming deprived of a reinforcer (like food or water), that reinforcer’s value increases, making the behavior that has previously produced it more likely to occur. This is distinct from a discriminative stimulus, which signals that reinforcement is available; from a positive reinforcer, which is the actual stimulus that increases behavior when delivered; and from emitted behavior, which refers to the response itself rather than a change in reinforcer value.