Motivating Operation
Also called: MO, establishing operation, abolishing operation, EO, AO
Definition
An environmental variable that alters the current effectiveness of a stimulus as a reinforcer or punisher, and correspondingly alters the frequency of behavior that has been reinforced by that stimulus. An establishing operation increases effectiveness; an abolishing operation decreases it.
In plain language
Something that changes how much a person wants a thing right now, and so changes how hard they work for it. Going without food makes food worth more. Finishing a large meal makes it worth less.
Examples
After an hour outside on a hot day, water becomes far more effective as a reinforcer and a learner asks for it repeatedly.
Deprivation raised the value of water, so requesting increased.
A learner who just spent twenty minutes on a preferred tablet game shows little interest in earning tablet time during the next session.
Recent access lowered the value of the item.
Not motivating operation
A picture card showing that the tablet is available. The card signals when a request will work, not how much the tablet is wanted.
A teacher walking into the room, which tells a learner that help is now available. That changes availability, not value.
Commonly confused with
See also
Written from
- michael-1982
- laraway-2003 — MO/EO/AO terminology
Written from Michael (1982) and Laraway et al. (2003), which are the primary sources for this concept and its modern terminology. No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.