Which statement regarding reinforcers is true?

The statement that reinforcers increase future occurrences of behavior is accurate and reflects a fundamental principle of behavior analysis. Reinforcers are stimuli or events that, when presented following a behavior, make that behavior more likely to occur again in the future. This is based on the concept of operant conditioning, where behaviors that are followed by positive outcomes tend to be repeated.

In practice, this means that if a particular action is followed by something that the individual finds rewarding, the likelihood of that action being repeated in the future increases. For instance, if a child receives praise after completing their homework, the positive reinforcement of praise makes it more likely that the child will complete their homework again.

Understanding what serves as a reinforcer can vary among individuals, as reinforcers are determined by a person's preferences. However, the essence of what a reinforcer is—its role in promoting the continuation of a behavior—is captured clearly in the correct statement.