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 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.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Partial reinforcement leads to behaviors that will persist longer than behavior learned through continuous reinforcement. This is because with partial reinforcement, the individual is not reinforced every time they exhibit the desired behavior, leading to a more persistent behavior as they continue to try and receive the reinforcement. With continuous reinforcement, the individual receives reinforcement every time they exhibit the desired behavior, leading to a more rapid learning of the behavior, but a less persistent behavior overall.

Which of the Following Statements Is True About Operant Conditioning