Final answer:
Operant stimulus generalization is the phenomenon where an organism responds in a similar way to new stimuli that resemble the original stimuli associated with a behavior's reinforcement in operant conditioning.
Step-by-step explanation:
Operant stimulus generalization is the tendency to respond to stimuli similar to those that preceded operant reinforcement. In operant conditioning, organisms learn to associate a behavior with its consequences. Stimulus generalization occurs when an organism demonstrates the conditioned response to stimuli that are similar to the conditioned stimulus.
For instance, if a cat runs to the kitchen when it hears the sound of a can opener because it associates that sound with being fed, it may also respond similarly to a similar sound, like an electric mixer. Over time, if the reinforcement only follows the can opener sound, the cat will learn to discriminate and react only to the can opener, a process known as stimulus discrimination.