Final answer:
In shaping, part of operant conditioning, the reinforcer must be presented immediately after the desired behavior to ensure the organism associates it with the reward, reinforcing the behavior effectively.
Step-by-step explanation:
In shaping, a specific method used within operant conditioning, it is crucial for the reinforcer to be presented after the desired behavior. This technique involves reinforcing successive approximations or closer and closer behaviors to the target behavior until the final desired behavior is achieved, which is then the only behavior reinforced.
For example, a rat in a Skinner box is initially rewarded for any behavior that is a rough approximation of pressing a lever. Over time, only behaviors that get closer to the actual lever pressing are rewarded. Ultimately, only the precise behavior of pressing the lever results in a reward.
Timing is key, and immediate reinforcement following the behavior ensures the strongest association is made between the behavior and its consequences, thus increasing the likelihood of the behavior being repeated in the future. This is because the organism is able to clearly associate the behavior with the receiving of the reinforcer, thereby strengthening the behavior.