Which of the following statements is true about operant conditioning?
A) Neither partial nor continuous reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist for long periods of time.
B) Continuous reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through partial or intermittent reinforcement.
C) Partial reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through continuous reinforcement.
D) Continuous reinforcement and partial reinforcement lead to behaviors that persist for equally long periods of time.
E) Contiguous reinforcement is the same as continuous reinforcement.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Partial reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through continuous reinforcement. This is because when behavior is only reinforced intermittently, the individual is more likely to continue performing the behavior in the hopes of receiving reinforcement. In contrast, with continuous reinforcement, the individual may become accustomed to receiving reinforcement every time and may be less motivated to continue the behavior if reinforcement is not consistently given.

Which of the Following Statements Is True About Operant Conditioning