Question

A teacher places a check mark on the chalkboard next to Henry’s name whenever Henry speaks out in class without raising his hand. If he receives three check marks in one day, Henry gets no recess the following day. The teacher is using:

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is the correct answer.

Operant conditioning, also referred to as instrumental conditioning, is a learning method that involves rewarding and punishing behaviors. So, rewarding someone can increase a specific behavior while punishing him/her can decrease this behavior. In this situation, through operant conditioning, the teacher is trying to make Henry see that if he doesn't change his behavior, he will have to face the consequences.