Final answer:
The student is using positive reinforcement to teach her puppy to lie down, which is a technique where a behavior is followed by a reward, increasing the likelihood of that behavior being repeated.
Step-by-step explanation:
The technique used by the student to teach her puppy to lie down by watching the puppy throughout the day and then clicking and treating when the puppy lies down is called positive reinforcement. In the field of behavioral psychology, this method involves reinforcing a behavior by providing a reward after the desired action is performed, which increases the likelihood of the behavior occurring again in the future. Specifically, the puppy learns to associate the action of lying down with the positive consequence of receiving a treat, which encourages the puppy to repeat the behavior.
Renowned psychologists such as B.F. Skinner have used positive reinforcement extensively in experiments, such as when teaching rats to press a lever in a Skinner box to receive food. The principle of immediate reward or reinforcement is crucial, as it helps the animal make a clear association between the target behavior and the pleasant outcome. This type of conditioning falls under the broader category of operant conditioning, where behaviors are modified using reinforcement or punishment.