Final answer:
d. have a harder time detecting the introduction of extinction Responding persists in extinction after partial reinforcement because subjects have a more difficult time detecting when the introduction of extinction has occurred, leading to slower extinction processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Recent research suggests that contrary to the ideas put forth in the discrimination hypothesis, responding persists in extinction after partial reinforcement because subjects have a harder time detecting the introduction of extinction. Extinction occurs when the conditioned stimulus is repeatedly presented without being paired with the unconditioned stimulus. This leads to a gradual decrease in the conditioned response. However, when partial reinforcement schedules are used, the unpredictability of reinforcements leads to a situation where it is more difficult for the subject to realize that reinforcement has ceased. As a result, the extinction process is slower, and the subjects continue to respond for a longer time even in the absence of the expected reinforcement. For instance, if an animal has been reinforced on a variable ratio schedule for pressing a lever, the introduction of extinction means that pressing the lever no longer yields a reward.
However, since the animal is used to receiving rewards sporadically, it's harder for it to discern that rewards will no longer be given at all, resulting in more persistent lever-pressing behavior.Extinction occurs in operant conditioning when a reinforced behavior decreases after reinforcement stops. Recent research indicates that responding persists in extinction after partial reinforcement because subjects learn not to give up in the face of failure. This means that even when reinforcement is no longer present, subjects continue to respond because they have learned not to be discouraged by the lack of reinforcement.