Behavioral approach to learning

Question 1

Learning

Answer 1

learning is any relatively permanent change in behaviour brought about through experience

Question 2

Classical conditioning

Answer 2

learning through association between two stimuli (Pavlov & Watson)

Question 3

Neutral Stimulus

Answer 3

initially does not trigger a response

Question 4

Unconditioned stimulus

Answer 4

naturally triggers a response

Question 5

unconditioned response

Answer 5

natural reaction to unconditioned stimulus

Question 6

conditioned stimulus

Answer 6

neutral stimulus associated with unconditional stimulus

Question 7

conditioned response

Answer 7

learned response to conditioned stimulus

Question 8

operant conditioning

Answer 8

learning through consequences of behaviour (Thorndike & Skinner)

Question 9

Reinforcement

Answer 9

Positive: adding a positive stimulus
Negative: removing an unpleasant stimulus

Question 10

Punishment

Answer 10

positive: adding an unpleasant stimulus
negative: removing a positive stimulus

Question 11

Classical conditioning in education

Answer 11

• Associate positive events with learning tasks
• gradual exposure to anxiety-provoking situations
• encourage appropriate generalization and discrimination

Question 12

Operant conditioning in education

Answer 12

• use reinforcement to increase desirable behaviors
• apply punishment cautiously to decrease undesirable behaviors
• use prompts and shaping for behavioral development
• employ reinforcement schedules to maintain behaviors

Question 13

Types of reinforcers

Answer 13

primary: innate (food, shelter)
secondary: learned (money, grades)

Question 14

Effective use of reinforcers

Answer 14

Make them contingent and timely
Apply the Premack principle (“grandma’s rule”): preferred activities as rewards

Question 15

Fixed/variable ratios

Answer 15

based on responses

Question 16

Fixed/variable intervals

Answer 16

based on time

Question 17

Guidlines for praise

Answer 17

• be clear and specific about behaviour
• make praise appreciative, not evaluative
• focus on individual progress rather than comparisons
• avoid public praise that may embarrass students
• recognize genuine accomplishments without exaggeration

Question 18

Punishment considerations

Answer 18

pair punishment with reinforcement for appropriate behavior
use mild and brief punishment, emphasizing learning over fear
be consistent and avoid punishing in anger

Question 19

issues with punishment

Answer 19

• may reinforce the punisher rather than correct behavior
• can suppress rather than teach desired behaviors
• risk of students disliking the punisher or escalating aggression
• potential for punishment to become reinforcing for attention-seeking behvavior

Question 20

Extinction

Answer 20

weakening a behavior by removing its reinforcement
often accompanied by an initial increase in unwanted behavior

Question 21

ABC analysis

Answer 21

Antecedent, behavior, consequence: analyzing behavior patterns to understand and address causes