What is a discriminative stimulus (SD)?

What is a discriminative stimulus (SD)?

• A. A consequence that follows a behavior
• B. A stimulus in the presence of which a particular response is reinforced
• C. A behavior that signals reinforcement is available
• D. A neutral stimulus with no relation to reinforcement

Answer: (B)

A discriminative stimulus is a cue that signals reinforcement is available for a specific response. Its presence creates the context in which the reinforcement contingency is in effect, so the target behavior is more likely to occur in that situation to obtain reinforcement. For example, a green light that appears when you press a lever means the lever press will be reinforced with food; if the light is off, that same lever press is not likely to be reinforced. This cue helps the organism discriminate when a behavior will work versus when it won’t.

A discriminative stimulus is a cue that signals reinforcement is available for a specific response. Its presence creates the context in which the reinforcement contingency is in effect, so the target behavior is more likely to occur in that situation to obtain reinforcement. For example, a green light that appears when you press a lever means the lever press will be reinforced with food; if the light is off, that same lever press is not likely to be reinforced. This cue helps the organism discriminate when a behavior will work versus when it won’t.