Final answer:
Giving a child dessert for eating their vegetables is an example of positive reinforcement, which is based on Skinner's operant conditioning principles, adding a desirable stimulus to promote a positive behavior like vegetable consumption.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question about whether giving a child dessert for eating their vegetables is a positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is a concept in operant conditioning that involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. In the scenario provided, the dessert serves as the desirable stimulus that is added after the child eats their vegetables, which is the behavior we want to increase.
This method is based on B.F. Skinner's principles of operant conditioning, which suggest that behaviors followed by positive consequences are more likely to be repeated. It is similar to other common positive reinforcement strategies, such as the use of sticker charts, where a certain number of stickers earned for demonstrating a desired behavior, can be exchanged for a reward like a trip to the ice cream parlor.