Riya, aged six, gives trouble at dinner every night. Her therapist advises her parents to give her a smaller snack at tea time and to praise her whenever she eats her dinner properly. Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Giving a smaller snack at tea time - Establishing operation
Option (1) Giving a smaller snack at tea time - Consequent operation — Incorrect. A consequent operation comes after the behaviour. The smaller snack comes before dinner, so it is not a consequent operation.
Option (2) Greater hunger at dinner time - Maintaining factor — Incorrect. A maintaining factor keeps a faulty behaviour going. The greater hunger helps the wanted behaviour of eating, so it is not a maintaining factor.
Option (3) Praising Riya when she eats dinner properly - Antecedent operation — Incorrect. Praise follows the eating, so it is the consequent operation. An antecedent operation changes something that precedes the behaviour.
Option (4) Giving a smaller snack at tea time - Establishing operation — Correct. An establishing operation changes the reinforcing value of a consequence before the behaviour. The smaller snack makes Riya hungrier, so food at dinner becomes more rewarding.
NCERT (2026-27): “Method of Treatment … |