Differences Between Motivating Operations and Stimulus Control

Objective: Distinguish between Motivating Operations (MOs) and Stimulus Control (SD).
Importance of understanding these concepts for applied behavior analysis (ABA) practices and BCBA exam preparation.
Key to success involves technical and specific understanding of these concepts as they can be closely related.
Encourage thorough knowledge of MOs and stimulus control prior to addressing B17.

Definition: MOs affect the value of a consequence, altering its effectiveness as a reinforcer.
Main attribute: Changes the value of the consequence.
Can also evoke (increase) or abate (decrease) behavior temporarily.
Example: After a workout, the body has a higher demand for carbohydrates, increasing their value as a reinforcer, even if they are not currently available.
Current Frequency: MOs affect the current frequency of behavior based on the changed value. For example, craving donuts makes you motivated to find them but availability is not guaranteed.

Definition: Refers to how certain antecedents (discriminative stimuli, SDs) reliably evoke behavior due to prior reinforcement.
Main attribute: Related to the behavior itself rather than the value of the consequence.
SDs signal availability of reinforcement, meaning behavior is more likely to happen when the SD is present.
The SD leads to predictable behavior as reinforcement is historically associated with that SD.
Example: An ad for swimsuits indicates they are back in stock, evoking a behavior of visiting the website to buy them based on previous reinforcement of purchasing behavior.

Value vs. Availability:
- MOs change the value of a consequence (e.g., thirst increases the value of water).
- SDs signal the availability of that consequence (e.g., seeing a water fountain indicates water is obtainable).
Reinforcement Signaling:
- MOs do not indicate if a consequence is available even if they are highly desired.
- SDs indicate reinforcement availability, fostering behavior that leads to obtaining a consequence.
Behavior Response:
- MOs can alter behavior's current frequency based on the new value of a consequence.
- SDs reliably evoke behavior due to historical reinforcement when that SD was present.

Example of MO: After exercising, an individual craves carbohydrates (high motivation) but may not have any available, indicating a high motivational state without availability until the right antecedent (SD) presents itself (e.g., seeing a snack bar).
Example of SD: An advertisement stating "back in stock" for swimsuits signals that specific swimsuits are available, encouraging the action to visit the store again.

MOs alter the value: They create motivation to engage in a behavior that will lead to the desired consequence.
SDs signal availability: They prompt the action based on the anticipation that past behaviors were reinforced under those conditions, maintaining a loop of predictable behavior.

Motivating operations change the value, while stimulus control signifies availability.
Successful behavior requires both high motivation (due to MOs) and the presence of an SD indicating access to a consequence.
Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effectively applying ABA principles in practical settings.