In addition, large-scale climate events like El Nino and La Nina redistribute vast water masses among Earth's ocean, atmosphere and land. Scientists care because, to put movements of Earth's crust into proper context, they need a frame of reference to evaluate them against.
Adj. 1. operant-having influence or producing an effect; many emotional determinants at work; an operant conscience. operative-being in force or having or exerting force; operative regulations; the major tendencies operative in the American political system. 1  Facebook.
Diagram of operant conditioning. Operant conditioning (also, âinstrumental conditioningâ) is a learning process in which behavior is sensitive to, or controlled by its consequences. For example, a child may learn to open a box to get the candy inside, or learn to avoid touching a hot stove. Positive reinforcement (reinforcement): This occurs when a behavior (response) is followed by a stimulus that is appetitive or rewarding, increasing the frequency of that behavior. 2  For example, if a rat in a Skinner box gets food when it presses a lever, its rate of pressing will go up.