Learning theory

Question 1

What is learning?

Answer 1

A process by which experience produces a relatively enduring change in behaviour or capabilities

Question 2

What are antecedents?

Answer 2

Environmental conditions or stimulus changes that exist before behavioural change

Question 3

What is classical conditioning?

Answer 3

A process that creates an association between a naturally existing stimulus and a previous neutral one

Question 4

What are two famous studies that shows classical conditioning?

Answer 4

Pavlov’s dogs

Watson and Rayner (1920)- Little Albert experiment

Question 5

What was the Pavlov’s dogs study?

Answer 5

A bell was rung which initially produced no response in dogs
The bell was then rung before feeding so the bell was associated with food (unconditioned stimulus) to condition the dog to the bell
After conditioning, the dogs salivated in the presence of the tone (conditioned stimulus) but in the absence of food (unconditioned stimulus)

Question 6

What is an unconditioned stimulus?

Answer 6

A stimulus that elicits a reflexive or innate response (unconditioned response) without prior learning

Question 7

What is a conditioned stimulus?

Answer 7

A stimulus that through association with a UCS comes to elicit a conditioned response that is similar to the original unconditioned response

Question 8

What is stimulus generalisation?

Answer 8

A tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar but not identical to a conditioned stimulus- will elicit a CR in a weaker form (Pavlov’s hear slightly different sound, they will salivate but not as much)

Question 9

What is stimulus discrimination?

Answer 9

The ability to respond differently to different stimuli

Question 10

What is extinction?

Answer 10

A process in which the conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly in the absence of the unconditioned stimulus causing the conditioned response to weaken and eventually disappear

Question 11

What is observational learning?

Answer 11

Occurs by watching and imitating actions of another person, or by noting consequences of a person’s actions

Question 12

What does observational learning require to be successful?

Answer 12

1. Attention
2. Retention
3. Production
4. Motivation

Question 13

What is the Bandura baby doll experiment?

Answer 13

Study on observational learning
Children watched adults aggressively beat up toy dolls
When allowed to play with the doll themselves, the children imitated the adults and aggressively beat up the doll themselves

Question 14

What is operant conditioning?

Answer 14

A process by which behaviour is learned and maintained by its consequences

Question 15

What is reinforcement?

Answer 15

A response is strengthed by the outcome that follows it

Question 16

What is a reinforcer?

Answer 16

The outcome that strengthens the response

Question 17

What is a primary reinforcer?

Answer 17

Stimuli, such as food and water, that an organism naturally finds reinforcing because they satisfy biological needs

Question 18

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Answer 18

Stimuli that acquire reinforcing properties through their association with primary reinforcers

Question 19

What is punishment?

Answer 19

A response that is weakened by the outcome that follows it

Question 20

What is a punisher?

Answer 20

A consequence that weakens the frequency of a response

Question 21

What is operant extinction?

Answer 21

Weakening and eventual disappearance of a response because it is no longer reinforced

Question 22

What are the two types of reinforcement?

Answer 22

Positive- When a response is strengthened by subsequent presentation of a reinforcer
Negative- When a response is strengthened by removal of an aversive stimulus

Question 23

What are the four different schedules of partial reinforcement?

Answer 23

Fixed interval- Reinforcement occurs after fixed time interval (activity increases as deadline nears)
Variable interval- Time interval varies at random around an average (steady activity results)
Fixed ratio- Reinforcement is given after a fixed number of responses (activity is slowed after reinforcement and then picks up)
Variable ratio- Reinforcement is given after a variable number of responses, all centred around an average (greatest activity of all schedules)

Question 24

What is continuous reinforcement?

Answer 24

Every instance of behaviour is reinforced