Which verbal operant directly describes what is seen, heard, or felt?

The correct answer is the verbal operant known as tacts. Tacting occurs when an individual labels or describes something they observe in their environment, such as what they see, hear, or feel. This operant is characterized by the use of descriptive language to communicate a direct observation or experience. For instance, if someone sees a dog and states, "That is a dog," they are tacting the object by identifying it based on its visual characteristics.

In contrast, mands involve requests or demands, where an individual asks for something they need or want. Echoics refer to the repetition of words or phrases that someone else has said, which does not necessarily involve describing experiences but rather mimicking sounds. Intraverbals involve responses that are related to previous verbal exchanges or prompts, where the response does not directly point to an observable object or event but is linked to prior dialogue. Understanding these distinctions helps clarify why tacts specifically describe what is seen, heard, or felt.