Operant conditioning (Main features)

Question 1

What is operant conditioning

Answer 1

operant conditioning is a theory that states that we learn from consequences of our actions.

Question 2

Describe how the ‘Skinner box’ was used to test operant conditioning

Answer 2

Food pelets would be released as reinforcement when the animals learned to do something.

Some contained electrified floors to punish behaviour

Question 3

Define reinforcement

Answer 3

the action of strengthining a behaviour by rewarding it

Question 4

2 different reinforcement

Answer 4

Negative and Positive

Question 5

What is positive reinforcement

Answer 5

Rewards desired behaviour by adding something pleasant, like food.

Question 6

What is negative reinforcement

Answer 6

rewards desired behaviour by removing something unpleasant, like taking away pain.

Question 7

What are the 2 types of reinforcements

Answer 7

Primary and secondary

Question 8

What is primary reinforcement

Answer 8

where we are rewarded with a biological need, like food or water

Question 9

What is secondary reinforcement

Answer 9

a reward we have learned to value and become associated with primary reinforcement, for example money.

Question 10

Define punishment

Answer 10

An event that is used to weaken a behaviour.

Question 11

2 types of punishment

Answer 11

Positive punishment and negative punishment

Question 12

What is positive punishment

Answer 12

punishes undesireable behaviour by adding something unpleasant, like a slap or an electric shock.

Question 13

What is negative punishment

Answer 13

punishes behaviour by removing something pleasant, for example being grounded or having your PS5 being taken away.

Question 14

Give an example of how operant conditioning is used in society

Answer 14

The criminal justice system uses negative punishment, removing freedom, on anyone whom breaks the law.

Question 15

What is a strength of operant conditioning

Answer 15

It is supported by many studies conducted on both animals and humans

Question 16

Strength of operant conditioning: evidence of the research support

Answer 16

Researchers like skinner conducted 100s of lab experiments demostrating operant conditioning working on animals, like his 1948 esperiement on pigeons.

Brain studies have shown humans have brain systems that relate to reinforcement in humans.

Question 17

Strength of operant conditioning: what does this evidence suggest

Answer 17

theres firm evidence supporting the existance of operant conditioning on both humans and animals.

Question 18

Weakness of operant conditioning

Answer 18

It’s an incomplete explanation of learning.

Question 19

Weakness of operant conditioning: evidence that it’s an incomplete explanation

Answer 19

It only explains how behaviours are strenghtened or weakened, it doesn’t explain the acquisition of the behaviour.

Question 20

Weakness of operant conditioning: what does this evidence suggest

Answer 20

operant conitioning is only a partial explanation of learning.

Question 21

Strength of application of operant conditioning.

Answer 21

Operant conditioning can be applied to schools and nurseries, aswell as childcare to reinforce good behaviour.

Question 22

Strength of application of operant conditioning: evidence that shows this

Answer 22

Schools may give out a ‘golden star’ to a child who gets all his work completed.

Parents mayuse positive reinforcement reward their children by buying them a gift or giving them food as a response to desired behaviour.