Which statement defines contingency in learning?

• A. A fixed schedule of reinforcement
• B. Dependent relationships between events where the probability of a consequence depends on the behavior
• C. The environment alone causing behavior without learning
• D. An automatic, reflexive response

Answer: (B)

Contingency in learning is the dependent link between a behavior and its consequences. It means the outcome occurs because of the behavior, and how likely or strong that outcome is depends on what the behavior is. In operant conditioning, this dependence is what makes learning happen: a behavior is followed by reinforcement or punishment, shaping how likely that behavior will occur again.

The other ideas don’t capture that relationship. A fixed schedule of reinforcement describes when reinforcement happens, not whether the outcome depends on the behavior. Saying the environment alone causes behavior ignores the learned connection between actions and consequences. An automatic, reflexive response is not about learned contingencies between behavior and outcomes.