Reinforcement praise correct response – UGC NET Question

In behaviourist terms, reinforcement is any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behaviour being repeated. Praise after a correct answer is a positive reinforcer because it encourages students to respond again in the future. It signals approval and can strengthen confidence. Therefore, the teacher’s prompt praise in the stem functions primarily as reinforcement.

Option A:
Reinforcement can be verbal, such as “good answer,” or non-verbal, such as a smile or nod. When given immediately after correct responses, it helps learners associate accurate answers with positive feelings and recognition, supporting further participation. This matches the situation described in the question.

Option B:
Punishment is a negative consequence intended to reduce the occurrence of a behaviour, which is the opposite of what praise does. The teacher’s action is clearly supportive rather than punitive.

Option C:
Competition refers to a situation where learners strive to outperform one another; praise may indirectly influence competition, but the main function here is to encourage the individual student’s correct responding.

Option D:
Diagnosis aims to identify learning difficulties or misconceptions; although praise can provide some information, its primary role in this context is not diagnostic but reinforcing.