What type of reinforcement is used when a teacher offers no homework for high test scores?

The situation described involves a teacher providing a reward—in this case, no homework—as a response to students achieving high test scores. This scenario is exemplifying positive reinforcement, which occurs when a desirable stimulus is added to encourage a behavior. In this context, the lack of homework serves as an incentive for the students to continue performing well on their tests.

By rewarding high test scores with no homework, the teacher is reinforcing the behavior of studying and preparing for tests, leading to an increase in that behavior in the future. Thus, the absence of homework becomes a motivational factor that supports continued academic success.

The other options do not appropriately fit this scenario. Negative reinforcement would involve the removal of an unfavorable condition to strengthen a behavior, punishment introduces an adverse outcome to reduce a behavior, and extinction involves the absence of reinforcement leading to a decrease in a behavior. In this case, since the focus is on rewarding good performance, positive reinforcement is the correct term to describe the teacher's approach.