Example Answer for Question 4 Paper 2: AS Psychology, June 2017 (AQA)

Section A - Approaches in Psychology

Question 4: Explain [3 Marks] - Reinforcement

Suggested Answer: A teacher might reward students with praise each time they pick up litter. This would act as positive reinforcement because the child would be receiving a reward (praise) each time they perform the desired behaviour (picking up litter). This might encourage the child who is being positively reinforced to continue picking up litter as they would desire further praise; however, it might also act as vicarious reinforcement to other children, who also want to receive the same rewards and consequently might also start picking up litter.