Final answer:
The reinforcement of progressively complex speech from "ba" to "boba" to "bottle" is an example of shaping, which is a technique in psychology used to teach complex behaviors through successive approximations.
Step-by-step explanation:
When Johnny is reinforced first for saying "ba", then "baba", and eventually "bottle", this is an example of a procedure known in psychology as shaping. Shaping is a technique where successive approximations of a desired behavior are reinforced. Behaviorist B. F. Skinner, who was influential in the field of operant conditioning, advocated this approach to teach complex behaviors. It's meant to guide an individual or organism toward a certain behavior by progressively reinforcing behaviors that come closer and closer to the target behavior.
The reinforcement begins with a simple behavior, such as uttering a syllable, and as the learner masters each level, they are reinforced for behaviors that are more closely aligned with the final goal, in this case, saying the word "bottle". This technique acknowledges that learning can be a step-by-step process, where each step is a building block to more intricate behaviors. This process of shaping can be seen not just in verbal language acquisition but also in the learning of sign language, Braille, or musical notation.