Essay Sample on Motivating Operations

Introduction

Motivating operations results into the alteration of the effectiveness of a given object, stimulus, or event reinforcing them as well as alteration of the existing frequency resulting from reinforced behavior by the given object, stimulus, or event. In a nutshell, unavailability of an effective reinforcer results into increase in behavior. It can also get construed as the behavioral notion or concept that was brought into play by one Jack Michael. The timeline for its introduction gets dated to about 1982. Some scholars also opine it as the environmental variable, which in some way alter the efficacy of varying results of the stimuli. Other cases where the different results may get realized is on the events and the reinforcers (Fagerstrom & Arntzen, 2016).

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On the other hand, discriminative stimulus, a given stimulus when repeatedly use a specific response is gained, and the possibility of occurrence of desired response is increased. A general description of the stimulus may also be provided in which it gets inclined to an environment which impacts the probability of action, a happening, or an event. The probability must be not only positive but also negative in some scenarios. The definition of discriminative stimulus may thus be viewed as part of the classic conditioning deduced from operant conditioning. The paper is thus premised on a discussion of the similarities and differences between the motivating operations and the discriminative operations. The discussion goes ahead with the identification and description of relevant antecedent variables with the view of real-life situations. The further discussion gives explanations and aid in the provision of examples on how the variables identified operates. For example, if they operate as either an operation or a discriminative stimulus.

The first similarity between the motivating operations and the discriminative stimulus is based on the fact that they are both antecedent variables. An antecedent variable is often explained as one which aids in the explanation of the relationship that exists between the independent and the dependent variables (Fagerstrom & Arntzen, 2016). An example from the real-life situation to validate the argument is noted through a social researcher who wishes to ascertain why some group of people are always willing to participate in volunteering work while others are opposed to such notions. The other similarity is based on both getting defined as the operant variables as well, instead of the control and response frequency. The underlying reason for the view is based on the relationship on the reinforcement or punishment the duo offer instead of focusing on a respondent's stimulus, particularly one which is not conditioned. An operant variable gets noted as a schedule of reinforcement, particularly in the event where there is a reinforced response after the existence of many responses. An example of comparison gets deduced on the lottery and the gambling games.

On the part of the differences between the two, the motivation operation is opined to have the ability to alter or punishing the efficacy brought by some of the objects, events, the current frequency of all the behaviors which have been reinforced and also another stimulus. These mentioned issues, the objects, and stimulus among the described in the preceding sentence are those that have received their consequential outcomes. An example noted in a real-life situation to validate the difference can be noted in the event of bike riding. We can consider bike riding as either an action or an event, but the consequential outcome is noted on the tiredness of the performer of the action. The other example can also be noted in this sentence, "I went on a Mount Climbing session but ran out of water." The climbing of the mountain and running out of the water are tied to each other. It is because of the mount climbing activity that the water could not last long. This example also functions as an antecedent variable, and how it works in motivating operations has extensively been detailed in the analytic description (Nosik & Carr, 2015).

On the part of the discriminative stimulus, the difference is deduced based on its view as the presence that describes different types of responses which have been reinforced. The difference can also be noted to share certain relations to the differential availability, especially those that are aligned to an efficient reinforcer for a specific type of action. The reinforcer must be both available and present with a specific stimulus, and at the same time unavailable in the event, the stimulus has not been existence (Nosik & Carr, 2015). The explanation may be a little confusing and need thorough analysis, and an example from a real-life situation may help in fast comprehension. The example is on the question that follows; may I have that pen? The quest for having the pen may only exist if the pen is in existence. The reinforcer is the pen; the stimulus can be an educational forum. The absence of the stimulus automatically cancels the reinforcer - the aid of the given details in advancing the understanding of motivating operations and the discriminative stimulus.

References

Fagerstrom, A., & Arntzen, E. (2016). Motivating operations and consumer choice. The Routledge companion to consumer behavior analysis, 296-305.

Nosik, M. R., & Carr, J. E. (2015). On the Distinction between the Motivating Operation and Setting Event Concepts. The Behavior Analyst, 38(2), 219-223.