Essay - Behaviourism

Question 1

What are the 5 key features of behaviourism

Answer 1

1. Learning is viewed as visible, measurable change in behaviour
2. Only external events cause change in behaviour and thus learning occurs
3. Internal events such as thinking and beliefs cannot be seen and therefore should not be viewed as learning
4. Didn’t think processes held in the mind were learning!
5. Learning must be observable and measurable called data-based instruction

Question 2

What are the 4 fundamentals of behaviourism?

Answer 2

1. Classical conditioning
2. Operant conditioning
3. Reinforcement theory
4. Punishment in theory

Question 3

Who came up with classical conditioning?

Answer 3

Pavlov

Question 4

Describe Pavlov’s experiment?

Answer 4

Studied the saliva of dogs. Found dogs would salivate every time lab assistant who fed the dog entered the room. Same thing happened if anyone else entered the room. Turns out there was a bell attached to the door which rang every time it was opened,

Question 5

What did Pavlov conclude?

Answer 5

Pavlov found that innate, automated bodily functions could be shaped, changed or conditioned by external interventions

Question 6

What is an example of contiguous pairing?

Answer 6

Food and bell directly linked to salivation. Even without food dog would salivate

Question 7

Describe Watson’s experiment?

Answer 7

Little Albert experiment - taught & conditioned little boy to be scared of white rats. Struck a gong and frightened him every time he was shown a white rat.

Question 8

Where is classical conditioning still be used?

Answer 8

Natural fears can be conditioned to lose the fears.

Use of prisons, torture

Question 9

What are the limitations of classical conditioning?

Answer 9

Severe limitations as it only applies to automated, classical bodily functions like saliva, sweating, blood pressure

Question 10

Who developed Operant Conditioning as a theory?

Answer 10

Thorndike.

Question 11

What was Thorndike’s experiment?

Answer 11

Locked a cat in cage with food just out of reach. Cat starved until it could work out how to open the cage. Used the cats natural behaviour of pawing so it would accidentally open the cage door when it pawed a lever which opened the door. Eventually cat learnt to deliberately paw the lever.

Question 12

Buris Skinner extended the principles of operant conditioning. How?

Answer 12

Applied it to wide range of animal experiments around WW2. Trained pigeons to peck at lights in sequence, then led to guiding missiles. Similarly we now have guide dogs who assist blind people. The car seat belt alarm is also an example.

Question 13

What is reinforcement theory

Answer 13

That all behaviours lead to some type of consequences

Question 14

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 14

Any type of consequence that strengthens the type of behaviour it follows

Question 15

What is positive reinforcement?

Answer 15

Something that strengthens a behaviour. A desired behaviour is strengthened because a desired stimulus is presented.

Question 16

What is negative reinforcement?

Answer 16

Something that strengthens a behaviour. A desired behaviour is strengthened because a negative stimulus is removed. E.g. car seat belt alarm. CAUTION Do NOT confuse negative reinforcement with punishment.

Question 17

What is Punishment in Theory?

Answer 17

Punishment decreases a behaviour so that is less likely to occur again.

Question 18

How does punishment work?

Answer 18

It decreases a behaviour by giving something unpleasant.

Question 19

Does punishment work?

Answer 19

There are many examples that punishment does not work to change behaviour

Question 20

What are three education applications of behaviourism in learning and pedagogy?

Answer 20

1. Mastery learning
2. Direct Instruction
3. Shaping Learning Behaviour

Question 21

What is mastery learning?

Answer 21

Dominant in 60s and 70s, mastery learning involved breaking down what needed to be learned into small units. Learning was done through drill and practice with a criteria that must achieve 90% correct to say it was mastered.

Question 22

What is direct instruction?

Answer 22

Teacher direction and control combined with drill and practice. Teacher reads a script, students drill and practice, then repeatedly tested, then learning occurs. Still dominant in teaching today. Reasonably effective but only in some cases. Depends on what’s being taught.

Question 23

What is Shaping Learning Behaviours?

Answer 23

Reinforcement or punishment, rewards systems, token reinforcement. Punishment also thought to control negative behaviours, e.g. detention.
Examples are sticker charts, smiley stamps, verbal praise and tangible, token rewards.

Question 24

What is important to realise about praise and reinforcement?

Answer 24

Must be used appropriately - contingent, realistic, specific and decreased over time

Question 25

What are four considerations if implementing a rewards system

Answer 25

1. Must be contingently paired - given as close as possible to the desired behaviour
2. Learning has not occurred if reward is removed and they return to prio behaviour
3. Reward must be decreased over time and the behaviour remain
4. If rewards aren’t gradually removed humans will come to expect them. Positive learning behaviours decrease as child comes to expect them. Tokenistic.

Question 26

Do sticker charts work?

Answer 26

Seem to interfere with natural learning process

Question 27

What is a behavioural change and management system that can be used in the classroom. What is name of the technique that supports it?

Answer 27

1. Applied Behaviour Analysis

2. Antecedent - Behaviour - Consequence (ABC)

Question 28

What is Applied Behaviour Analysis?

Answer 28

Based on the belief that we can identify and change someone else’s behaviour.

Question 29

What is ABC?

Answer 29

Antecedent - Behaviour - Consequence (ABC) is based on belief that all behaviours have antecedents and consequences. It is an observational technique to identify and assess the ABC’s of behaviour. Idea that in studying the antecedents we can learn a lot about child’s behaviour and treat the precise cause. Commonly used in special education settings. Has some serious ethical concerns and cautions for teachers.

Question 30

4 criticisms of behaviourism

Answer 30

1. Too simplistic - simplistic correlation between external stimulus and learner response
2. What about my own ability to have internal thoughts and new ideas - internal cognitive processes (Piaget’s) such as perception, interest and shared understanding (Vygotsky) also contribute to learning
3. Does reinforcement reduce intrinsic motivation? Emphasis on reward and tokenistic reinforcement reduces learner control and desire to learn independently
4. Is it ethical? Punishment may not actually teach appropriate behaviours and it lacks contiguous pairing. And is it ethical to influence people through modification or coercion of behaviour? E.g. torture.