Operant Conditioning

1. Operant Conditioning Behaviorism & B.F. Skinner

2. B.F. Skinner • University of Minnesota faculty • Uninspired by Classical Conditioning • Much to narrow a focus • Pairing is not acquisition of new knowledge • Inspired by pigeons outside his office • “Law of Effect” • Outcomes effect future behavior • Many experiments with pigeons • May be the most influential Psychologist on American Education

3. Behaviorism • Traditions of Research in Higher Education • Newton – “I stood on the shoulders of giants.” • Take existing research farther • Psychoanalytic research in the 30’s • Research going too far out on a limb, • Little practical use • Trying to access your own subconscious • Behaviorism is a response to esoteric Psychoanalysis • The pendulum swings back to the complete other side

4. Behaviorism • Research is based on scientific principles. • Only observabledata should be collected • Count the number of occurrences of an action • Count the duration of an action • Count the magnitude of an action • Make no assumptions as to the internal state of a subject • “Learning is a conscious change in behavior” • Research is reproducible & reliable

5. Operant Conditioning • Skinner’s learning model (ABC) • Operant-Voluntary Action • Antecedent – Behavior – Consequences (Environment-Action-Results) • Candy isle in the supermarket • Antecedents are still important • Skinner focused on the consequences • Only two types of consequences are possible • Paid or Penalized.

6. Operant Conditioning • Types of Consequences • Reinforcement • Increasesbehavior • Likelihood of occurrence, magnitude, or duration • Positive Reinforcement (Mathematical interpretation) • Addition of a reward • A jelly bean, dinosaur sticker, etc. • Negative Reinforcement (Mathematical interpretation) • Subtraction of an annoyance • Excused from a final examination if all quizzes are “A’s”

7. Operant Conditioning • Types of consequences (cont.) • Punishment • Decreases behavior • Likelihood of occurrence, magnitude, or duration • Presentation Punishment • Addition of an annoyance (aversive) • Spanking, verbal reprimand, etc. • Removal Punishment • Subtraction of a privilege • Stay in from recess • Overhead Matrix

8. Reinforcement Schedules • Continuous- Each occasion gets rewarded • Jelly bean every time you raise your hand to speak • Fixed Interval - Set period of time between rewards • Check journals once per week • Variable Interval–No set time period between rewards • Check homework 3 time per semester • Fixed Ratio – Reward after set number of behaviors • Every 5 journal entries come show them to me • Variable Ratio – Randomly reward behavior, no system • Maybe a sticker this time and maybe not.

9. Behaviorism Techniques • Standing orders • Be systematic • Have a behavior plan • Implement consistently • Be specific • Name the behavior you want to see again • “Catch them being good” • Be sincere • Punish or Praise for the student’s good not yours • No venting on students

10. Behaviorism Techniques • Methods of Reinforcement • Teacher Attention • Verbal Praise • Gestures • Touching? • Premack Principle • With-hold a desired activity until a less desired activity is finished adequately • Positive Practice

11. Behaviorism Techniques • Methods of punishment • Satiation • Wear out the bad behavior by having them repeat it • Verbal Reprimands • Gentle art of corrections • Quiet, Direct, never say “Or else…” • Social Isolation • Time out • Peer-Pressure • Punish group for sins of one person • Response-Cost • Gradually increasing severity of the punishment with every occurrence