Social Cognitive Theory (II)

1. Social Cognitive Theory (II) EDU 330: Educational Psychology Daniel Moos

2. Social Cognitive Theory: Learning from Models Girl more likely to choose engineering as a career if she observes the work of a female engineer People more likely to imitate behaviors in others they perceive as similar to themselves People more likely to imitate behaviors in others they perceive as competent Student more likely to imitate teacher if s/he believes that teacher is knowledgeable People more likely to imitate behaviors displayed by high-status models *Very high status models tend to have competence attributed to them outside the fields of expertise*

3. Social Cognitive Theory: Role of Epistemology (I) Epistemology is the philosophical study of knowledge. • (1) The nature of knowledge. • (2) The requirements of knowledge. • (3) The limitations of knowledge.

4. Social Cognitive Theory: Role of Epistemology (II) Various “types” of knowledge: • Perceived physical environment: e.g. that there are people before me. • Perceptible and social world beyond my present experience: e.g. that there is a structure called the Eiffel Tower in Paris. • Personal past that I experienced • Historical past that I did not experience: e.g. Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860.

5. Social Cognitive Theory: Role of Epistemology (III) Various “types” of knowledge: • Perceived physical environment: e.g. that there are people before me. • Perceptible and social world beyond my present experience: e.g. that there is a structure called the Eiffel Tower in Paris. • Personal past that I experienced • Historical past that I did not experience: e.g. That Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States in 1860. • Nature of knowledge: Learning quick or not at all? Knowledge certain? Role of Authority Figures? Ability fixed?

6. Social Cognitive Theory: Role of Epistemology (IV) • HS students who believe learning happens quickly or not at all = Lower GPA • HS students who believe knowledge is certain = Lower GPA • MS combine quick learning and fixed intelligence • MS who combine quick learning and fixed intelligence, less likely to see value in math

7. Social Cognitive Theory: Role of Epistemology (V) How might personal teacher epistemology affect instructional decisions? • Simple knowledge (Too many theories just complicate things) • Certain knowledge (Truth means different things to different people) • Innate ability (People can’t do too much about how smart they are) • Omniscient authority (People should always obey the law) • Quick learning (If you don’t learn something quickly, you won’t ever learn it)

8. Social Cognitive Theory: Application to the classroom • Behave in ways you want students to imitate • Enforce classroom rules and procedures fairly and consistently • Capitalize on modeling effects and processes to promote learning • Put students in modeling roles • Capitalize on guests as role models when possible

9. Social Cognitive Theory: Potential criticisms • Why do learners imitate some modeled behaviors, but not others? • How can social cognitive theory explain learning of complex tasks, beyond that of mere mechanics (e.g., writing)? • To what extent does social cognitive theory explain the complex role of context and social interactions in learning?

10. Social Cognitive Theory: Discussion Suppose a teacher has a classroom rule requiring students to raise their hands before speaking, and further suppose that a student speaks without permission and is not reprimanded. • Using social cognitive theory as a basis, what is the likely effect on the rest of the class of not reprimanding the student • What modeling effect does this best illustrate? Explain this effect using the concept of expectations. • Do you envision requiring your students to raise their hand before the speak? Make sure to explain.