Psychology of Learning: Observational Learning

Question 1

GENERAL CONCEPTS

Define Observational Learning.

Answer 1

Observational learning is the process of learning that occurs through watching the behaviours of others (models), noting the consequences of those behaviours, and then using this information to guide one’s own actions, often through imitation.

Question 2

GENERAL CONCEPTS

What are the 4 factors that influence observational learning?

Answer 2

1. Attention: the individual notices something in the environment
2. Retention: the individual remembers what was noticed
3. Reproduction: the individual produces an action that is a copy of what was noticed.
4. Motivation: the environment delivers a consequence that changes the probability the behaviour will be produced again.

Question 3

BANDURA’S EXPERIMENT

What did Bandura’s experiment demostrate?

Answer 3

Bandura’s Bobo doll experiment demonstrates that children learn aggression through observing others, specifically by imitating adult models.

Question 4

BANDURA’S EXPERIMENT

What did Bandura’s experiment involve?

Answer 4

The experiment involved showing children videos of adults either aggressively or non-aggressively interacting with a Bobo doll, then observing whether the children replicated those behaviors. This study is a key piece of evidence for Bandura’s social learning theory.

Question 5

GENERAL CONCEPTS

Define inter-rater reliability.

Answer 5

Inter-rater reliability, when dealing with behaviour counts, assesses the consistency and agreement between different observers or raters in their counts of specific behaviours or events. It’s a crucial aspect of ensuring the validity and reliability of observational studies and assessments.

Question 6

GENERAL CONCEPTS

What type of data do behaviour counts yield?

Answer 6

Objective Quantitative

Question 7

GENERAL CONCEPTS

Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using behavioural counts.

Answer 7

Advantages:
* Quick and easy to use, providing immediate quantifiable data
* Ideal for tracking behaviours over time and for noting an increase or decrease of incidents
* Can be useful when planning behaviour modification strategies
* Data can be graphed or charted to find consistent patterns
Disadvantages:
* Do not provide rich details or context due to no qualitative evidence
* Results may be misleading with no clear sequence of events regarding certain actions or behaviours

Question 8

MIRROR NEURONS

Explain mirror neurons.

Answer 8

Mirror neurons are a type of brain cell that respond equally when we perform an action and when we witness someone else perform the same action. These neurons are thought to play a crucial role in imitation, by helping us understand and learn by watching.

Question 9

OVERVIEW

What is common in all learning processes?

Answer 9

All forms of learning involve:
* learning through experience and environmental factors.

Question 10

GENERAL CONCEPTS

Why do we learn?

Answer 10

We learn for survival, plan for the future, social and cultural rules in order to behaviour appropriately.