MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY
B.Sc. HONOURS PSYCHOLOGY
MODULE OUTLINE
Module Title:
Module Code:
Lecturer:
Office:
Learning and Information Processing
PSY 111
T.N TUTURU
Room 22
Module Description
This module examines principles that help to explain how experience affects many forms
of behaviour. It covers such topics as classical, operant and observational learning and
models of information processing. Emphasis will be placed on how these can be applied
to promote desirable behaviour such as healthy lifestyles and occupational safety. Good
study habits as well as reducing/eliminating maladaptive behaviour such as aggression
and smoking.
Module objectives
The course objectives include enabling you to:
 Define learning.
 Outline basic principles of classical and operant conditioning
 Distinguish between classical and operant learning
 Apply classical and operant conditioning to human problems
 Describe the major forms of cognitive learning( insight, latent & observational)
 Explain Social learning theory
 Explain and evaluate the various models of information processing
 Define learning disability and explain the various categories of learning disabilities.
Instructional Approaches
Lectures
These will constitute 3 hours a week. Should there be need, extra lectures will be
scheduled. You are strongly advised to attend all lectures; this will be to your advantage.
Tutorials
These will be conducted once, one hour per week. Attendance is mandatory. Classroom
participation is strongly encouraged.
Assignments
Assignments constitute 40% of the final course mark. You will write 2 assignments: one
essay constituting 20 marks and a twenty item objective test constituting 20 marks. The
objective test will be written in class on a date to be advised. Essays should be a
maximum of 4 TYPED pages and a minimum of 3 pages. Anything beyond 4 pages will
not be credited.
 Sources consulted should be more than 5.
 Submission of assignments should be not later than 12 noon on the due date in
the lecturer’s office. Late submissions will be penalized.
 Academic Dishonesty such as plagiarism is strictly forbidden and will attract
disciplinary action. Therefore the contribution of others should be clearly
acknowledged (see also handout on essay writing).
Exam
There will be an exam at the end of the semester worth 60% of your final mark. It will
consist of multiple choice, short answer and essay type questions.
Individual study
You spent ONLY 4 hours in lectures and tutorial per week the rest of the week you are
expected to research, study on your own!
Content
Introduction to Learning and information processing
What is Learning
Definition of information processing
Types of learning
Theories of learning
Classical Conditioning
Pavlov's pioneering research
Basic principle of classical conditioning
Applications of classical conditioning
Operant Conditioning
Thorndike's Law of effect
Skinner's Analysis of operant conditioning
Basic principles of operant conditioning
Schedules of Reinforcement
Applications of operant conditioning
Cognitive Views on Learning
Early cognitive theories
Gestalt Psychology
Edward Tolman’s Purposive Behaviour
Jean Peaget’s Developmental theory
Verbal Learning Research
Social Learning theories
Background Information
Social learning model
Environmental factors in social learning
Cognitive factors in social learning
Modeling
Information Processing
Encoding, storage and retrieval
Short term or working memory
Long term memory
Forgetting
Definition
Causes
Access and storage failure
Serial learning
Special Educational Needs
Cognition and learning
Mild and moderate learning difficulties
Severe and special learning difficulties
Dyslexia and Autism
Reading List
Child D. (2004) Psychology and the Teacher Continuum, London
Gross R. (2001) Psychology the Science of Mind and Behaviour 4th Edition, GreenGate
Publishing Services, Kent
Ormrod J.E Human Learning
Santrock J.W (2003) Psychology Essentials. 2nd Edition. Stone, McGraw-Hill
Assignments
Describe and evaluate classical conditioning as an explanation of behaviour of humans
and animals.
Due Date: 7 September 2006
In-Class test
Date: To be advised