Operant conditioning

Question 1

Assumption

Answer 1

assumes that behaviour is caused by learning the process of reward and punishment.

Question 2

Developed by

Answer 2

BF Skinner

Question 3

Based upon what research?

Answer 3

• Skinner was furthering the research of thorndike

- wanted to further classical conditioning

Question 4

What did Skinner do?

Answer 4

Used a lab experiment with rats- Skinner style box

Question 5

Reinforcers

Answer 5

Increases the probability of behaviour being repeated. Can be both positive and negative

Question 6

Primary reinforcers

Answer 6

Rewards that meet a basic need e.g. food, water, shelter

Question 7

Secondary reinforcers

Answer 7

These are a reward that is not in itself a basic need but can be exchanged for a primary reinforcer e.g. money for food

Question 8

Reinforcements

Answer 8

Encourage the repetition of a desired behaviour

Question 9

Positive Reinforcement

Answer 9

Something good is given in response to the behaviour

Question 10

Negative Reinforcement

Answer 10

Something bad is taken away in response to behaviour

Question 11

Punishments

Answer 11

Used to discourage bad behaviour

Question 12

Positive Punishment

Answer 12

Something bad or unwanted is given and the unwanted behaviour is stopped

Question 13

Negative Punishment

Answer 13

Something good/desired is taken away and the unwanted behaviour is stopped.

Question 14

What is Token Economy

Answer 14

a treatment method that provides secondary reinforcement for a desurable behaviour that can be saved up or exchanged for a primary reinforcer.
Main aim is to encourage desired behaviour through a system of reward and reduce undesired behaviour through punishments . the more tokens recieved the better the reward, this has been implemented in institutions such as school and prisons.

Question 15

Strengths

Answer 15

Empiricism- quantitative statistical data was gathered in a directly observable manner.
Falsifiable- testable predictions can be made as the concepts of the the are clearly defined
Reliable- standardised procedures were used which enabled Skinner to replicate his research, proving the consistency of his findings.
Application- has useful applications to society as it can explain certain behaviours such as addiction to drugs and how behaviour can be changed through reinforcement

Question 16

Weakness

Answer 16

Generalisability- animals were used in skinners research which is not 100% generalisable to humans
Eco Validity- considered to be low because most organisms learn behaviour in a more complex environment. this limits the credibility of the research
Ethics- it can be argued that unnecessary suffering was caused to the animals used. however many applications of this research has made human life easier. e.g. guide dogs