Operant Conditioning

Question 1

Define Operant Conditioning

Answer 1

Learning through reinforcement.

Question 2

Who created the theory?

Answer 2

B.F.Skinner (1938)

Question 3

Define Positive Reinforcement

Answer 3

When a behaviour cause a desirable outcome, you are more likely to repeat it.

Question 4

Define Negative Reinforcement

Answer 4

When a behaviour results in the removal of something unpleasant, you are more likely to repeat it.

Question 5

Define Punishment

Answer 5

Where a behaviour results in an undesirable outcome, you are unlikely to repeat it.

Question 6

What was Skinner’s experiment?

Answer 6

• Skinner box = cage of stimuli including a food dispenser and electric floor.
• rat placed in box: accidentally hits lever for food dispenser and is rewarded with a piece of food; rat learns the lever results in food (PR)
• rat placed in box: electric floor is turned on, rat accidentally hits lever which stops the current; rat learns lever stops the eclectic shock (NR)

Question 7

Strengths of Operant Conditioning

Answer 7

• Skinner’s experiment is laboratory based so high internal validity
• used in schools to modify behaviours of students

Question 8

Weaknesses of Operant Conditioning

Answer 8

• cannot be realistically generalised as rats are a different species
• humans have free will so may not react in the same way