Final answer:
Positive reinforcement and positive punishment are similar because they both involve adding a stimulus, but while positive reinforcement increases a behavior by adding a desirable stimulus, positive punishment decreases a behavior by adding an undesirable stimulus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Professor Warren tells her roommate that positive reinforcement and positive punishment are similar because they add a stimulus. In the realm of operant conditioning, both positive reinforcement and positive punishment involve adding a stimulus to influence behavior, although they differ in their ultimate goals. Positive reinforcement adds a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. An example is giving a treat to a dog for sitting on command, thus increasing the likelihood that the dog will sit in the future. Conversely, positive punishment involves adding an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior, like scolding a student to prevent them from texting in class.