Defineoperant conditioning. Discuss the factors thatinfluence the course of operant conditioning.

Operantconditioning refers to the conditioning of behaviours and responsesthat are under the control of animals and human beings and areemitted voluntarily by them. The behaviour is learned, maintained orchanged through its consequences called reinforcers. These refer to astimulus or event that increases the probability of the occurrence ofthe response. The factors that influence the course of operantconditioning are as follows:

• Type of reinforcements − Positive reinforcement involves pleasant consequences that satisfy needs. Negative reinforcement involves unpleasant and painful consequences that lead to learning of avoidance.

• Number and quality of reinforcements − The course of operant conditioning is accelerated by increase in number, amount and quality of reinforcements.

• Schedule of reinforcement − Continuous reinforcement elicits a desired response every time during a trial. Intermittent reinforcement elicits responses only intermittently.

• Delay in the delivery of reinforcement − It results in a poor level of conditioning and performance.