Question

Mary decides to try to modify Pearl's behavior. She and the rest of the family refuse to respond to any comment or request by Pearl that they know she is capable of expressing in English. For example, if during dinner she says, "Pass the potatoes" in English, she gets potatoes; if she says it in her native language she gets ignored.

The procedure being used to change Pearl's behavior is ______.

a) positive reinforcement
b) negative reinforcement
c) adventitious reinforcement
d) punishment

Answer 1

The correct answer is: Positive reinforcement.

Step-by-step explanation:

Positive reinforcement is a technique used in operant conditioning and it consists of rewarding behavior considered positive by using a reinforcer after the subject elicits the behavior.

It follows this schema: Behavior considered positive -----> reward --------> Behavior is more likely to happen again.

In this particular case, the behavior that wants to be reinforced is Mary Speaking in English. When Mary speaks in English their family proceeds to reinforce that behavior by passing her the potatoes.

The correct answer is a) Positive reinforcement.

Answer 2

b) negative reinforcement

Step-by-step explanation:

Negative reinforcement has to do with rewarding or responding to a certain stimulus or behaviour by respond in a negative or averse manner.

Mary tries to change Pearl's behaviour by refusing to making a comment or responding to Pearl speaking her native language when she's capable of expressing herself in English. They do this so she would learn to speak English more and get used to it.

Pearl's family are using negative reinforcement to try and get her to speak English more often. If she uses her native language, she is ignored and not replied to unless she repeats her words in English. Ignoring her is the averse method her family is using to get her to respond to the stimulus of speaking English.