In the Early Stages of Shaping a Rat to Press

question 137

Multiple Choice

In the early stages of shaping a rat to press a lever,the teacher would:

• A) deliver a food pellet if the rat simply faced the lever
• B) feed the rat many food pellets to familiarize the rat with the reinforcer
• C) delay the delivery of food pellets to present a challenge to the rat
• D) wait for the rat to press the lever three times in a row before delivering a food pellet

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Definitions:

Language Development

The process by which individuals acquire the capacity to perceive, produce, and use words to understand and communicate.

Nativist Approach

A theory in psychology that suggests skills or abilities are innate and genetically inherited rather than learned.

Noam Chomsky

A linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist known for his theory of generative grammar, significantly influencing the field of cognitive science.

Language Development

How young children learn to comprehend and utilize language during the initial stages of childhood.