ABA Exam CoachLessons · B. Concepts and Principles
B.16 · Spotting motivating operations
Why does the same cookie work as a great reinforcer at 11 a.m. and barely register right after lunch? That shift is a motivating operation at work, and once you can spot one, a lot of confusing behavior starts to make sense.
Key takeaway
A motivating operation changes how effective a consequence is right now (value-altering) and changes how often behavior that produced that consequence occurs (behavior-altering). Establishing operations increase value and evoke behavior. Abolishing operations decrease value and abate behavior. To tell an MO from an S^D, ask whether the variable changed how much the consequence matters or only signaled that it's available.
A motivating operation changes how effective a consequence is right now (value-altering) and changes how often behavior that produced that consequence occurs (behavior-altering). Establishing operations increase value and evoke behavior. Abolishing operations decrease value and abate behavior. To tell an MO from an S^D, ask whether the variable changed how much the consequence matters or only signaled that it's available.
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