Final answer:
Operant stimulus control is established when a response is more frequent in the presence of a specific stimulus and rare without it, as seen in operant conditioning where behaviors are modified by consequences. Therefore the correct answer is C. a response occurs more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus, but rarely occurs in the absence of the stimulus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Operant stimulus control has been achieved when a response occurs more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus, but rarely occurs in the absence of the stimulus. This is a core concept in operant conditioning, a form of associative learning where behaviors are modified by their consequences. The answer to the student's question is C: a response occurs more frequently in the presence of a specific stimulus, but rarely occurs in the absence of the stimulus. This is because operant conditioning revolves around the learned association between a voluntary behavior and its consequences, unlike classical conditioning which involves reflexes triggered by associated stimuli.
In classical conditioning, Pavlov's experiments with dogs are a classical example where salivation, which is an unconditioned response, becomes associated with the ringing of a bell, a conditioned stimulus. In operant conditioning, B.F. Skinner's experiments with rats in a Skinner box illustrate how animals can learn to perform specific behaviors, such as pressing a lever, to receive a reward like food.