PAPER: SECTION: Operant Conditioning
TOPIC: The Approaches
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
1. When individuals learn through consequences. Consequences
Reinforcements will increase behaviour and punishments will Positive and Negative Punishment
decrease behaviour. Positive and Negative Reinforcement
Behaviourist Approach
2. Positive reinforcement is the receiving of something pleasant. Skinner 1953
Repeating behaviour
3. Negative reinforcement is removing something unpleasant. Extinction
Generalization
4. Positive punishment is receiving something unpleasant. Shaping
5. Negative punishment is the removal of something pleasant.
6. As long as the the behaviour is reinforced it’ll be repeated but
the behaviour can become extinct if there is no more reward.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE - Skinner – 1953 (The Rat Box)
Placed a rat in a box with a lever that released food when pressed, this was a form of positive reinforcement. Rat learnt
to press lever.
For negative reinforcement, a moderate electric grid below the rat would be turned on, the rat then moved around
frantically accidently hitting the level. Eventually the rat learned to go straight to the lever to turn off the current. This
action removed something unpleasant (negative reinforcement.)
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
The study is based on well controlled research. This study is very simplistic using rats to generalise all
humans. The study does not go into different mental
The behaviour observed was in a lab setting (rat box) so
processes that are suggested by other learning theories
other extraneous variable were eliminated.
either.
Skinner was able to demonstrate how reinforcement
There are more complex factors that could be involved,
influenced animal’s behaviour.
and rats act differently than humans therefore this study
The behaviourists approach has scientific credibility. cannot necessarily be used to prove the behaviourist
theory.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Operant conditioning has real – world application. This study has various ethical issues. Skinner uses animals
in a chamber like box to observe their behaviour. The rats
The theory learned can be used in institutions such as aren’t in their normal environment and clearly
prisons and schools to reduce behavioural problems. experience distress when shocked.
The behaviourist approach has high value because of the The can be hurt and harmed from this experiment.
widespread application.
TOPIC: The Approaches
SIX SENTENCE SUMMARY OF KEY IDEAS (K/U) KEY WORD GLOSSARY
1. When individuals learn through consequences. Consequences
Reinforcements will increase behaviour and punishments will Positive and Negative Punishment
decrease behaviour. Positive and Negative Reinforcement
Behaviourist Approach
2. Positive reinforcement is the receiving of something pleasant. Skinner 1953
Repeating behaviour
3. Negative reinforcement is removing something unpleasant. Extinction
Generalization
4. Positive punishment is receiving something unpleasant. Shaping
5. Negative punishment is the removal of something pleasant.
6. As long as the the behaviour is reinforced it’ll be repeated but
the behaviour can become extinct if there is no more reward.
RELEVENT EVIDENCE - Skinner – 1953 (The Rat Box)
Placed a rat in a box with a lever that released food when pressed, this was a form of positive reinforcement. Rat learnt
to press lever.
For negative reinforcement, a moderate electric grid below the rat would be turned on, the rat then moved around
frantically accidently hitting the level. Eventually the rat learned to go straight to the lever to turn off the current. This
action removed something unpleasant (negative reinforcement.)
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
The study is based on well controlled research. This study is very simplistic using rats to generalise all
humans. The study does not go into different mental
The behaviour observed was in a lab setting (rat box) so
processes that are suggested by other learning theories
other extraneous variable were eliminated.
either.
Skinner was able to demonstrate how reinforcement
There are more complex factors that could be involved,
influenced animal’s behaviour.
and rats act differently than humans therefore this study
The behaviourists approach has scientific credibility. cannot necessarily be used to prove the behaviourist
theory.
PEEL STRENGTH PEEL WEAKNESS
Operant conditioning has real – world application. This study has various ethical issues. Skinner uses animals
in a chamber like box to observe their behaviour. The rats
The theory learned can be used in institutions such as aren’t in their normal environment and clearly
prisons and schools to reduce behavioural problems. experience distress when shocked.
The behaviourist approach has high value because of the The can be hurt and harmed from this experiment.
widespread application.
