Final answer:
The professor's statement, "Nice job on that test," is an example of positive reinforcement, where a desirable stimulus (praise) is added to increase the likelihood of the student repeating the good behavior. The answer is option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Operant Conditioning
When a professor says to her student, "Nice job on that test," she has used positive reinforcement. This is a concept from operant conditioning that involves adding a desirable stimulus to increase a behavior. In the scenario, the professor adds praise, which is likely to increase the likelihood of the student's good performance in the future. This is in contrast to negative reinforcement, which would entail removing an undesirable stimulus to increase behavior, and punishment, which either adds an undesirable stimulus to decrease a behavior (positive punishment) or removes a desired stimulus to decrease a behavior (negative punishment).
The act of praising a student is an example of a formal positive sanction that can improve a student's behavior and learning outcomes. This is seen as more favorable than punishment because it encourages and rewards good behavior rather than discouraging unwanted behavior through negative consequences.