Tolmie (2011) - Learning & Group Work

Question 1

What did Thorndike suggest?

Answer 1

Argued that successful response must be slowly stamped in - this led him to propose his law of effect: the strength of a response is a function of its past consequences - the more successful it is, the more dominant it will become.

Question 2

What is applied behaviour analysis (ABA)?

Answer 2

ABA researchers and practitioners apply behaviourist principles of learning to behaviour
such as parenting and industrial safety, as well as education. The
start point is functional behaviour
assessment, detailed analysis of the focal behaviour within
its environment, to determine what reinforcers influence its occurrence. On the basis of this, changes to the pattern of reinforcement are introduced, to nudge behaviour in the desired directions. However, only achievable with small umber, because effort required is intensive.