What did Skinner find regarding the timing of the rat pressing the lever?

What did Skinner find regarding the timing of the rat pressing the lever?

• A. It became slower over time
• B. There was no noticeable change
• C. It became quicker with repeated exposure
• D. It was inconsistent

Answer: (C)

Skinner's research on operant conditioning demonstrated that with repeated exposure to a stimulus, such as a rat pressing a lever for food, the timing of the lever pressing indeed tends to become quicker. This can be attributed to the reinforcement the rat receives each time it successfully presses the lever and obtains food. As the rat learns to associate the lever pressing with a positive outcome, it becomes more efficient and quicker in its response, showing a clear pattern of accelerated behavior. This phenomenon is a key aspect of learning in operant conditioning, where behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated and done more rapidly as the organism becomes more proficient in the action. It emphasizes how reinforcement can shape behavior over time, leading to faster responses as the subject becomes more conditioned to the task.

Skinner's research on operant conditioning demonstrated that with repeated exposure to a stimulus, such as a rat pressing a lever for food, the timing of the lever pressing indeed tends to become quicker. This can be attributed to the reinforcement the rat receives each time it successfully presses the lever and obtains food. As the rat learns to associate the lever pressing with a positive outcome, it becomes more efficient and quicker in its response, showing a clear pattern of accelerated behavior.

This phenomenon is a key aspect of learning in operant conditioning, where behavior that is rewarded is likely to be repeated and done more rapidly as the organism becomes more proficient in the action. It emphasizes how reinforcement can shape behavior over time, leading to faster responses as the subject becomes more conditioned to the task.