Final answer:
Diamond is most likely to meet her goal due to the immediate reinforcement of her academic behavior, which is in line with operant conditioning principles and ensures a strong behavior-reward association. The correct answer is option 3.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student who is most likely to meet their behavioral goal of engaging in at least 5 hours of academic time per day is Diamond, whose plan is to provide the reinforcer immediately after she meets her daily goal every single time she meets it. The immediacy of the reinforcement in Diamond's plan is crucial, as it establishes a clear and direct association between the behavior and the reward.
This approach aligns with the principles of operant conditioning, which suggest that prompt reinforcement following the desired behavior is most effective at encouraging that behavior to be repeated. Diamond's strategy is designed to maximize motivation and reinforce the academic behavior consistently, making it the most likely to lead to success.
While other students like Pat and Ian plan to delay their rewards, such plans may not be as effective as immediate reinforcement. For instance, Ian's plan to provide reinforcement only on Sunday night might not consistently maintain his motivation throughout the week. Similarly, Brittany's plan to provide reinforcement at 11 pm each night may not be as influential if the reward is too far removed from the behavior. Immediate reinforcement, as in Diamond's case, ensures that the association between behavior and reward stays strong, thereby increasing the chances of the behavior being repeated.