The process of differential reinforcement during shaping results in response differentiation. Which option best describes this statement?

• A. Always true
• B. It depends on the learner
• C. Sometimes false
• D. True

Answer: (D)

Differential reinforcement during shaping drives response differentiation because shaping builds a new behavior by reinforcing closer and closer approximations to the target and only when the learner makes responses that meet the current criterion. By reinforcing successive approximations more than others, the learner’s responses become organized into distinct forms that diverge as criteria tighten. In other words, this selective reinforcement creates a shaping path where behaviors that meet the criterion are strengthened while others are not, producing differentiated responding along the sequence. Therefore, the statement is true. In practice, this holds when reinforcement is truly differential and criteria are set appropriately; misapplication can blunt differentiation, but the principle remains that differential reinforcement during shaping yields differentiated responses.