What is reinforcement?
A. Reinforcement is a consequence provided after the occurrence of a behavior that increases the possibility of that behavior occurring again. Reinforcement is not necessarily the provision of a desirable object or activity. In order for reinforcement to have occurred, the target behavior must be observed to increase. Contingent and natural reinforcers result in the child learning that his/her behavior impacts the environment (i.e. that it has meaning). Communication is typically rewarded by functional and natural responses. Requesting an item and consequently receiving that item, results in the likelihood that one will request the item in the future. Reinforcers can also be unrelated to the behavior. Getting something to eat, for example, would not be a natural reinforcer for clapping your hands. Research suggests that program goals are more generalized, and motivation is higher, when most of the reinforcement in the program is natural, and directly related to the childs response. The
