"What should be changed to make the following sentence true? In classical conditioning, the initial period of learning is known as latent."
The word latent should be changed to the word acquisition.
The word conditioning should be changed to the word behaviorism.
The word classical should be changed to the word operant.
The word initial should be changed to the word interval.
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is:
**The word latent should be changed to the word acquisition.**
**Explanation:**
In classical conditioning, the initial period of learning is indeed referred to as the **acquisition** phase. The term **acquisition** describes the process through which a conditioned response (CR) is gradually learned or acquired by associating the unconditioned stimulus (US) with the conditioned stimulus (CS). This is the stage where the organism learns the connection between the two stimuli, resulting in the conditioned response.
To clarify the other options:
1. **The word latent should be changed to the word acquisition**:
This is the correct change. The term **latent** refers to something that is present but not immediately obvious or observable. In the context of classical conditioning, latent learning refers to learning that occurs without immediate reinforcement and is not immediately apparent in behavior. However, the initial period of learning, where the conditioned response is actually developed, is called **acquisition**.
2. **The word conditioning should be changed to the word behaviorism**:
This change would not be correct. **Conditioning** refers specifically to the learning process in classical and operant conditioning. **Behaviorism**, on the other hand, is a broader psychological theory that focuses on observable behaviors rather than internal mental states. While behaviorism encompasses classical conditioning, changing the word "conditioning" to "behaviorism" would alter the meaning of the sentence entirely.
3. **The word classical should be changed to the word operant**:
This change would not be correct in this context. **Classical conditioning** involves learning through association, where an organism learns to associate a neutral stimulus with an unconditioned stimulus. **Operant conditioning**, on the other hand, involves learning through consequences, such as reinforcement or punishment. Changing "classical" to "operant" would refer to a completely different type of learning theory.
4. **The word initial should be changed to the word interval**:
This is not a correct change either. The word **interval** refers to the time period between two events, but **initial** refers to the beginning phase of something. In this case, the "initial period of learning" refers to the early stages of acquiring a conditioned response, not to the concept of an interval.
Thus, the most appropriate and accurate change is to replace "latent" with "acquisition" to accurately describe the first stage of classical conditioning.