On the first day of kindergarten, the teacher responds to the students every time they ask her a question. By the end of the first week, the teacher will only respond to students who are sitting quietly at their desks. At the end of the second week, the teacher will only respond to students' questions if they are quietly seated, raise their hands, and wait to be called on before asking their questions. The teacher is using ________ to change the students' behavior.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The teacher is using shaping, a process in which successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced. Initially, any attempt to ask a question is reinforced, then only questions asked from a seated position, and finally, only questions asked in a very specific manner (seated, hand raised, and waiting to be called on) are reinforced. This gradually guides the students towards the desired behavior.

On the First Day of Kindergarten, the Teacher Responds to the Students