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Operant Conditioning. Presented by: Chrissti Lacher Mark Lam Lacey Richards Ashlynn Vance. B.F. Skinner – A History. Believed that learning is a function of change in overt behavior, and that behavior could be shaped gradually.
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Operant Conditioning Presented by: ChrisstiLacher Mark Lam Lacey Richards Ashlynn Vance
B.F. Skinner – A History • Believed that learning is a function of change in overt behavior, and that behavior could be shaped gradually. • Also believed that changes in behavior are the result of an individual’s response to events that occur in the environment. • Behaviorist and a Social Philosopher. • Moonlights as a Poet/Author/Inventor.
Definition: • A method of learning that occurs through rewards and punishments for behavior. • Associations are made between a behavior and a consequence for that behavior. • All about stimulus response.
Underlying Theories: • Reinforcement (either positive or negative) is key to this theory. • Reinforcement – Anything that strengthens a desired response. • Primary Reinforcers – Natural reinforcers; things that affect behavior without having to learn anything. • Secondary Reinforcers – social forms of reinforcement.
Key Components to OC 1) Positive Reinforcement 2) Negative Reinforcement 3) Punishment 4) Extinction
Positive Reinforcement • In a nutshell, if you are presented with something desirable the positive behavior will continue. • > + + • Recent studies have found that this type of reinforcement is the most powerful. • Ex. Training a Dog
Negative Reinforcement • < - + • Remove the negative variable from a situation and you will likely see an increase in the desired behavior. • Ex. Nagging
More examples of Reinforcement • Fixed interval schedule – reinforcement schedule in which desired behavior is rewarded following a constant amount of time. • Example - This is best for a classroom. Assign short quizzes rather than infrequent major exams - this encourages them to give their best efforts all of the time instead of pulling all nighters.
Punishments • > - - • Presenting a subject with a negative action in order to decrease a response/behavior. • Ex. Rebel Child
Extinction • < + - • Removing a stimulus completely in order to eliminate a specific behavior. • Ex. Candy, Starbucks, The Biggest Loser
Works Cited • Heffner, Christopher. "All Psych Online." Learning Theory and Behavioral Psychology . N.p., 01 04 2001. Web. 24 Feb 2011. <http://allpsych.com/psychology101/learning.html>. • Huitt, W., & Hummel, J. (1997). An introduction to operant (instrumental) conditioning. Educational Psychology Interactive. Valdosta, GA: Valdosta State University. Retrieved [21 Feb 2011] from, http://www.edpsycinteractive.org/topics/behsys/operant.html • Slavin, Robert. (2009). Educational Psychology Theory and Practice. New York: Allyn & Bacon.