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Unit 6 – Discussion Differences between Discriminative Stimulus and Motivating Operation

Unit 6 – Discussion Differences between Discriminative Stimulus and Motivating Operation

Q What is the difference between and SD and an MO? As a practitioner, why is it important to distinguish between these two variables? What are some questions you might ask to help you identify whether a given stimulus or event is an SD or an MO? How does the answer to that question help you identify whether an antecedent stimulus is functioning as an SD or MO? Respond to this question as though your audience is a parent or caregiver. In your response, use language that is accessible/understandable to someone who doesn’t have prior exposure to behavior analysis without the explanation being mentalistic.

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In case of the SD being active, there is reinforcing of specific types of responses by an individual (Cooper et al. 2007). There can be recurrence of specific types of responses when SD is inactive. However, such recurrences might take place even when there is no reinforcement of such responses (Cooper et al. 2007). Therefore, the driving factor is the specific condition of stimulus in case of analysis/observation of behavior in SD. In case of SD, the behavior is actually getting actualized because of a force which is disturbing the individual showing the behavior. In case of MO, there is flexibility in the way in which there are changes in the reinforcement methods for specific stimulus (Cooper et al. 2007).