Which of the following is NOT an effective reinforcement strategy?

Providing reinforcement only sporadically from the beginning can hinder the establishment of desired behaviors. In behavioral principles, particularly during the initial stages of learning, consistent and immediate reinforcement is crucial in helping individuals understand the connection between their behavior and the reward.

When reinforcement is sporadic from the start, it may create confusion about which behaviors are being rewarded, leading to inconsistency in the learning process. This approach can also result in frustration or lack of motivation, as the individual may not experience the benefits of reinforcement frequently enough to reinforce the desired behavior.

Effectively establishing and maintaining behavior typically requires reinforcement that is immediate and reliable during the learning phases. Once a behavior is well established, intermittent reinforcement can then be used to strengthen the behavior and promote its durability over time.