L 11 Classic Theories 2

Question 1

Which researcher believed learning happened instantaneously?

Answer 1

Gutherie

Question 2

Which researcher believed that learning was a gradual process?

Answer 2

Thorndike

Question 3

What was Tolman’s main contribution to the learning literature?

Answer 3

Latent learning

That learning and performance are two different things.

Question 4

Why is Expectancy a key element of Tolman’s Full Learning Paradigm theory?

Answer 4

While we could experience a stimulus and know appropriate responses if we are not expecting a reward we won’t act out the behaviour

S -> R -> Expectation

Question 5

In Tolman’s learning paradigm (S-R-E) what is contiguity and what is contingency

Answer 5

Contiguity = S-R

Contingency = R-E

Question 6

Explain Atkinson’s Expectancy Value Theory

Answer 6

People do things if we are motivated and it’s worth it, but only if we have a high probability of success.

Question 7

What is the formula for Atkinson’s (1974) Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT)?

Answer 7

P = M x E x I

(response = motive x expectancy x incentive value)

Question 8

Is intermittent (Skinner) or continuous (Tolman) reinforcement stronger for learning?

Answer 8

Intermittent

Question 9

What are the 3 main differences between Skinner and Tolman’s theories?

Answer 9

Tolman’s expectancy theory linked to the frequency of reinforcement is wrong, Skinner was right (intermittent)

Skinner’s assumption that you can only learn with rewards is false, Tolman right.

Skinner’s exclusion of cognitions and motivation is wrong (believed learning and performance are the same)

Question 10

What influences did Tolman’s work have on learning theory?

(4 things)

Answer 10

1. Both contiguity and contingency (reward) is important.
2. Influenced the development of EV theory.
3. Influenced the development of Rotter’s ‘locus of control construct’
4. Distinguished learning (S-R) from performance (R-E)

Question 11

What did Clark Hull believe was the key element for learning?

Answer 11

Learning is due to motivation states (drives) and drive reduction was the key element.

(Animals learn because they have a food drive, sex drive etc.)

Question 12

Did Hull believe in both contingency and contiguity (separation of learning and performance)?

Answer 12

Yes

(similar to Tolman)

Question 13

What did Hull believe learning was?

Answer 13

Learning has a purpose.

The purpose is finding the appropriate response in a given stimulus condition/situation that reduces drives.

Question 14

Hull was not a radical behaviourist like Thorndike, Guthrie or Skinner. He included ____ in his theory

Answer 14

intervening variables

Question 15

Hull believed in what type of learning relationship?

Answer 15

S-s-R

S = learned first

this S knowledge is internalised neurologically as a trace (s)

which then gives rise to R (the motor response)

Question 16

How is Hull’s S-s-R relationship different to Skinner?

Answer 16

Skinner did not postulate about this sort of internal or intervening process

Question 17

What was Hull’s theory in a nutshell?

Answer 17

Learning occurs when animals associate S-R (contiguity)

but this is activated to reduce drives (e.g., hunger)

Strength of the S-R association = habit strength

habit strength x drive strength = reaction potential

Question 18

What is habit strength?

Answer 18

How strong the response and stimulus are connected (how must you associate the stimulus with the response)

Question 19

What is the reaction potential according to Hull?

Answer 19

The strength of responding

When they really know the response (habit strength) and the drive strength is really strong

Question 20

The key element of Hull’s theory is?

Answer 20

drive reduction

(animals work to reduce their drives)

Question 21

sHr in Hull’s theory refers to?

Answer 21

Habit strength

Question 22

What is conditioned inhibition?

Answer 22

If you have a habit that you enjoy, but then you start to no longer enjoy it, the reinforcement will be inhibited and you will no longer want to engage in that behaviour.

(go to a restaurant for years, then all of a sudden the food quality becomes poor)

Question 23

What is incentive value in Hull’s system?

Answer 23

How good quality the reward is

Question 24

Name the factors in Hull’s full system.

Answer 24

Question 25

What does stimulus intensity dynamism refer to in Hull’s full system?

Answer 25

The intensity of the stimulus influences learning

(react more strongly to a stronger stimulus)

Question 26

What does variability or oscillation mean?

Answer 26

You might have a behaviour that is strongly rehearsed but some days it will not be as good (variation in response)

Question 27

What went wrong with Hull’s theory?

Answer 27

Drive’s can’t explain all behaviour. The drive element isn’t necessary for behaviour

• Animals engage in a lot play and exploration behaviour.*
• These do not seem to involve reinforcement?*