Theories

Question 1

Define Scientific theories (3 key terms)

Answer 1

A set of concepts and propositions that describe, organize and explain a set of observations

Question 2

Three elements of a good theory

Answer 2

1. Parsimonious
2. Falsifiable
3. Heursitic value / stimulates new research

Question 3

What are the major tenets of behaviourism/ learning theories

Answer 3

Strong emphasis on environmental features (empiricism)
Only Behaviours to be measured
little to no emphasis on cognitive systems or the subjective

Question 4

B.F. Skinners contribution

Answer 4

Operant conditioning and radical behaviourism

Question 5

Albert Bandura’s contribution

Answer 5

Cognitive Social Learning theory (still considered a learning theorist but much less radical than skinner and Watson)

Question 6

What are the key processes in observational learning

Answer 6

Attend carefully to a model, encode the observations, store this information and then imitate the observed behaviours.

Question 7

What is a more rigorous definition of Cognitive-Developmental theories?

Answer 7

Genetic Epistemology (the study of the origins and development of knowledge, and what form it takes)

Question 8

What are the major tenets of Cognitive Developmental theories?

Answer 8

Children rely on schemes/schemas to make sense of the world
Children are ‘active’ learners,
Discovery-based education/learning

Question 9

Continuous vs. Discontinuous change

Answer 9

Continuity: changes across a measurable continuum (quantitatively expressable) (ORDINAL)
Discontinuity: Changes in form or kind (NOMINAL)

Question 10

What theories do continuous changes agree with?

Answer 10

The idea that individual skills are added one by one as a result of learning and experience

Question 11

What theories do discontinuous changes agree with?

Answer 11

The idea that we progress through dev. stages characterized by specific abilities (ie crawling, walking, running.)