Question

In this multiple stimulus assessment, the chosen item is removed from the array, the order or placement of the remaining items is rearranged and the next trial begins.

Answer 1

The question pertains to the concept of operant conditioning within psychology, specifically referring to the reinforcement schedules used in behavioral experiments to increase desired responses. The question mentions both variable and fixed ratio schedules, which are key concepts in understanding how reinforcements can affect behavior.

Step-by-step explanation:

The subject of the question appears to be related to operant conditioning, a concept in psychology where an organism learns from the consequences of its actions. Specifically, the scenario described involves a technique often used in behavioral experiments where a reinforcement is provided to increase the likelihood of a desired response. The use of multiple stimulus assessment is a method in behavior analysis to identify preferred stimuli that may act as effective reinforcers.

The two instances provided in the question:

• Reinforcement is delivered after an unpredictable number of responses (e.g., after 1, 4, 5, and 9 responses), which is a type of variable ratio schedule.
• Reinforcement is delivered after a predictable number of responses (e.g., after 2, 4, 6, and 8 responses), which is a fixed ratio schedule.

Understanding the impact of these reinforcement schedules is essential in fields like education, therapy, and behavior modification programs.