In the memory aid, what does 'positive' refer to?

• A. Introducing something to the environment.
• B. Removing something from the environment.
• C. Increasing the likelihood of a response.
• D. Decreasing the likelihood of a response.

Answer: (A)

Positive refers to adding something to the environment. In this memory aid for operant conditioning, “positive” signals that a stimulus is introduced after a behavior. This is why introducing something to the environment is the correct choice. The other options describe the effect on behavior (increasing or decreasing likelihood) rather than what the term itself means, and removing something is the negative counterpart. So the key idea is that positive means adding, not the direction of the behavioral change.