EXPERIMENTS - LEARNING: THE SKINNER BOX Flashcards
Who and in what year came up with the Skinner Box
B.F Skinner (1948)
Which term did skinner coin and how
- The term “Operant Conditioning”
- by conducting experiments using animals which he placed in a “Skinner Box”
What was one of the main point Skinner made during his skiner box experiment
Behaviours that led to rewards increased; ones that led to punishment decreased.
What was one of his other very famous studies called
“Superstition in the Pigeon.”
What was the aim of the other very famous experiment
To explore the effects of non-contingent reinforcement (reinforcements are delivered regardless of the individual’s behaviour) on pigeons, leading to some fascinating observations that can be likened to human superstitions.
What were the methods of the famous Superstition in the Pigeon study
- Hungry pigeons were placed in a cage with a food hopper that would be opened for only five seconds at a time.
- Instead of the food being given as a result of any specific action by the pigeon, it was presented at regular intervals, regardless of the pigeon’s behaviour.
- Their behaviour was recorded.
What were the results of the famous Superstition in the Pigeon study and what term did Skinner make
Over time the pigeons began to associate whatever random action they were doing when food was delivered with the delivery of the food itself.
This led the pigeons to repeat these actions.
Skinner believed the pigeons had developed a “superstition” that their behaviour was causing the food to appear.
Give examples of what the pigeons did when superstition occured
- one pigeon would turn counter-clockwise between food presentations, while another would peck a cage corner.
Why did these pigeons act this way
These behaviours were not initially related to the food delivery but became linked in the pigeon’s mind due to the coincidental timing of the food dispensing.
Explain how the rate of reinforcement played a significant role
Shorter intervals between food presentations led to more rapid and defined conditioning.
Once behaviour was established what could occur
The interval between reinforcements could be increased without diminishing the behaviour.
What does the experiment demonstrate
That behaviours can be conditioned even without a direct cause-and-effect relationship.
How can humans be expected to develop superstitious behaviour like the pigeons
Through linking behaviours or beliefs with an uncontrolled outcome, based on coincidental occurences
