What does behavioural shaping refer to in operant conditioning?

What does behavioural shaping refer to in operant conditioning?

• A. Teaching something gradually by reinforcing successive approximations.
• B. Providing continuous reinforcement every time.
• C. Extinguishing a behavior through punishment.
• D. Modeling behavior after a role model.

Answer: (A)

Shaping in operant conditioning is the process of teaching a new or complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations toward the target response. Rather than waiting for the exact behavior to occur, reinforcement is given for behaviors that move closer to what is wanted, and the criteria are gradually raised so the learner advances step by step to the final behavior. This approach is especially useful when the target action is not in the learner’s current repertoire or would be difficult to perform in one step, such as training an animal to perform a sequence of actions or teaching a child a new skill. Continuous reinforcement, used to establish a behavior by rewarding every instance, is a different method and isn’t the same as shaping. Extinguishing a behavior through punishment and modeling by imitation involve different processes (removing reinforcement to reduce behavior, or learning by observing others), not the incremental reinforcement of closer and closer approximations.

Shaping in operant conditioning is the process of teaching a new or complex behavior by reinforcing successive approximations toward the target response. Rather than waiting for the exact behavior to occur, reinforcement is given for behaviors that move closer to what is wanted, and the criteria are gradually raised so the learner advances step by step to the final behavior. This approach is especially useful when the target action is not in the learner’s current repertoire or would be difficult to perform in one step, such as training an animal to perform a sequence of actions or teaching a child a new skill. Continuous reinforcement, used to establish a behavior by rewarding every instance, is a different method and isn’t the same as shaping. Extinguishing a behavior through punishment and modeling by imitation involve different processes (removing reinforcement to reduce behavior, or learning by observing others), not the incremental reinforcement of closer and closer approximations.