Final answer:
A reinforcement contingency is the relationship between behavior and its consequences, with reinforcement being more effective when contingent on the target behavior. In operant conditioning, immediate and contingent reinforcement facilitates the learning of new behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
A reinforcement contingency is the conditional relationship between the occurrence of a target behavior and the presentation of a reinforcer or a punisher. This relationship affects the strength and the rate at which the behavior occurs. Specifically, a reinforcement contingency is best described as the relationship between a behavior and its consequence, meaning the answer is C. Therefore, the effectiveness of reinforcement is highly influenced by whether the reinforcement is contingent on the target behavior. For example, in operant conditioning, if a dog receives a treat every time it sits on command, it is more likely to repeat this behavior in the future due to the immediate and contingent reinforcement.
In terms of the effectiveness of reinforcement, it is generally more effective when the reinforcement is immediate and contingent on the target behavior, rather than delayed. As B.F. Skinner noted in his work on operant conditioning, the use of positive reinforcement is particularly effective when establishing a new behavior through a continuous reinforcement schedule. After the behavior has been established, a partial (or intermittent) reinforcement schedule can maintain the behavior more resiliently, making it less susceptible to extinction than if reinforcement is continuously provided.