Final answer:
The statement is false; continuous reinforcement is a specific form of contingency but not the only one, as other reinforcement schedules, like fixed ratio and variable ratio, also exist in operant conditioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the simplest contingency is reinforcement, in which every instance of the response is reinforced, is false. The term contingency refers to the relationship or dependence between a behavior and its consequence. The simplest form of contingency in operant conditioning is continuous reinforcement, but it is not the only type. In continuous reinforcement, rewarding a behavior every time it occurs can lead to a fast acquisition of the behavior but can also lead to rapid extinction when the rewards stop. There are other reinforcement schedules like the fixed ratio reinforcement schedule, where a set number of responses must occur before a behavior is rewarded, or the variable ratio reinforcement schedule, where the number of responses needed for a reward varies. This variable schedule is known to create a high and stable rate of response that is resistant to extinction.