After carrying a step stool to the kitchen, five-year-old Laura is able to reach the Scotch tape dispenser on the kitchen counter. What is the operant in this example?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The operant in this example is carrying the step stool to the kitchen because it is a behavior that Laura engaged in that resulted in her being able to reach the Scotch tape dispenser. The Scotch tape dispenser itself is not an operant, but rather the object that Laura was trying to access through her behavior. The image of the step stool in the child's mind and the age of the child are not operants either, as they do not correspond to observable behaviors.

After Carrying a Step Stool to the Kitchen, Five-Year-Old Laura