operant

operant
In conditioning, any behavior or specific response chosen by the experimenter; its frequency is intended to increase or decrease by the judicious pairing with it of a reinforcer when it occurs. SYN: target behavior (1), target response.

* * *

op·er·ant 'äp-ə-rənt adj of, relating to, or being an operant or operant conditioning <\operant behavior> compare RESPONDENT
op·er·ant·ly adv
operant n behavior (as bar pressing by a rat to obtain food) that operates on the environment to produce rewarding and reinforcing effects

* * *

adj.
describing a unit of behaviour that is defined by its effect on the environment. See conditioning.

* * *

op·er·ant (opґər-ənt) in psychology, any response that is not elicited by specific external stimuli but that recurs at a given rate in a particular set of circumstances. See also conditioning.

Medical dictionary. 2011.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • opérant — opérant, ante [ ɔperɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1560; de opérer ♦ Théol. Grâce opérante, qui a des effets spirituels. ♢ (1787) Cour. Qui produit un effet. Nos mesures ont été opérantes. ⇒ agissant, 1. efficace. ⊗ CONTR. Inopérant. ● opérant, opérante… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • operant — OPERÁNT, Ă, operanţi, te, adj. Care îşi produce (repede) efectul; eficace. – Din fr. opérant. Trimis de oprocopiuc, 04.05.2004. Sursa: DEX 98  OPERÁNT adj. v. eficace, eficient, folo sitor, operativ, practic, productiv, util. Trimis de siveco,… …   Dicționar Român

  • operant — (adj.) that works, early 15c., from L. operantem (nom. operans), prp. of operari to work (see OPERATION (Cf. operation)). Psychological sense of involving behavior modification coined 1937 by U.S. psychologist B.F. Skinner (e.g. operant… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Operant — Op er*ant, a. [L. operans, p. pr. of operari. See {Operate}.] Operative. [R.] Shak. n. An operative person or thing. [R.] Coleridge. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • operant — index active, functional Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • opérant — opérant, ante (o pé ran, ran t ) adj. Qui est propre à opérer. •   La foi vive et opérante par la charité, MASS. Profess. relig. Serm. 2. REMARQUE    Bossuet, suivant la règle archaïque, faisait encore quelquefois accorder le participe présent… …   Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré

  • operant — [äp′ər ənt] adj. [< L operans, prp. of operari: see OPERATE] 1. operating, or producing an effect or effects 2. Psychol. a) designating behavior defined by the resulting stimulus rather than the stimulus which elicits it b) designating… …   English World dictionary

  • operant — I. adjective Date: 15th century 1. functioning or tending to produce effects ; effective < an operant conscience > 2. of or relating to the observable or measurable 3. of, relating to, or being an operant or operant conditioning < operant… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • operant — /op euhr euhnt/, adj. 1. operating; producing effects. n. 2. a person or thing that operates. [1595 1605; < LL operant (s. of operans, prp. of operari; see OPERATE); see ANT] * * * …   Universalium

  • operant — 1. adjective That operates to produce an effect. I tell you frankly, if Paul Aubry is guilty I hope is convicted and punished; but if one of the others is guilty I hope he or she is punished, and if I knew anything operant to that end I certainly …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”