Which term refers to the process that increases the likelihood of a behavior being repeated?

• A. Punishment
• B. Direct instruction
• C. Behaviorism
• D. Reinforcement

Answer: (D)

Reinforcement strengthens a behavior by following it with a consequence that makes repeating that behavior more likely. When a student receives praise, a small reward, or extra time after doing something well, they’re more inclined to do it again because the outcome is satisfying. Similarly, negative reinforcement increases the chance of repetition by removing an unpleasant condition once the desired behavior occurs, such as stopping a bothersome cue when the student begins the task. The key idea is that the consequence increases the probability of the behavior reoccurring.

Punishment aims to reduce a behavior by presenting something unpleasant or taking away something desirable. Direct instruction is a teaching method, not the mechanism that makes a behavior happen more often. Behaviorism is the broader theory about how learning occurs, within which reinforcement is the specific process that increases repetition.