Definition reprinted with permission from Hood, Stephen B. (editor) available from Stuttering Foundation of America: Stuttering Words (Publication No 2: Speech Foundation of America)
Connect with us
approximation
As used in operant conditioning and learning, the reward or positive reinforcement given to productions that come progressively or successively closer and closer to the desired target. In stuttering, this is used to refer to deliberate attempts on the part of the stutterer to speak in a manner that comes successively closer and closer to the desired target.