How can you know if a reinforcer is effective?

A reinforcer is considered effective if it results in the increase of the behavior it is intended to reinforce. When a student repeats the target response to obtain the reinforcer, it indicates that the reinforcer has a motivational value for the student and is positively influencing their behavior. This behavior change demonstrates a clear relationship between the reinforcer and the desired action, showing that the student is willing to engage in the necessary response to access the reward.

In contrast, outcomes such as increased distraction by the student suggest that the reinforcer may not be capturing their attention or encouraging the desired behavior. Ignoring prompts may imply that the student is not motivated by the reinforcer to engage with the task at hand, further indicating ineffectiveness. Finally, simply providing the reinforcer consistently does not guarantee its effectiveness; it must also result in the increase of the target behavior. Therefore, observing the student actively working to obtain the reinforcer is a clear sign of its effectiveness.