Applied Behavior Analysis Technician (ABAT) Practice Test

What happens to a behavior when positive reinforcement is applied?

1. The behavior decreases

2. The behavior remains the same

3. The behavior increases

4. The behavior is extinguished

The correct answer is: The behavior increases

When positive reinforcement is applied to a behavior, the behavior is more likely to occur again in the future. This is because positive reinforcement involves presenting a motivating item or stimulus after the behavior occurs, which strengthens the likelihood of that behavior being repeated. For instance, if a child receives praise or a reward for completing their homework (the behavior), they are more likely to continue doing homework in the future to receive the same positive outcome. The key idea is that by reinforcing the behavior positively, it increases the chances that the behavior will happen again, demonstrating the principles of operant conditioning.