Operant Conditioning
Shuo Wang
Abstract
This book is created to support
learners to further develop and learn
the learning theory of Operant
Conditioning. In this book, the
definition of Operant Conditioning
theory will be explicitly defined in
both normal form and academic form
with critical evaluations. The impact
in applying this theory in eduction
will be demonstrated through
examples. Moreover, educational
diagrams support learners to
understand the definitions,
evaluations or examples. In the end,
self-assessments and activities help
learners assess their learning
outcomes and implement their
learning to real life. After reading the
book, readers will be able to develop
a complete concept of Operant
Conditioning and grasp the skill of
implementing the theory in real life.
Introduction to Operant Conditioning
Theoretically, Operant Conditioning theory separates itself from classical
conditioning which only focuses on one side condition, either negative or
positive, and instrumental conditioning. In an easier way to understand,
Operant Conditioning is a learning method that activates learners’ curiosities
and help them learn through rewards and punishments varied by learner’s
behaviours(Cherry, 2005). This theory has great strength in education areas
and this book has clearly discussed in following content. However, passive use
of this theory might cause learners to generate rebel psychology that
discourage them to learn. Some people also think this theory treat people like
they were animals. This theory was first developed by behaviourist and
psychologist B.F. Skinner. This theory was created based on related theory,
Thorndike’s law of effect. Thorndike’s law of effect was studied by Edward L.
Thorndike and he found that behaviours that received good consequences
tend to repeat and those lead to unpleasant consequences are less likely to
repeat. Another related theory is instrumental conditioning. It was first
published by Jerzy Konorski and referred to as “Type II reflexes”. Instruction
conditioning originally suggests that behaviour’s form, frequency and strength
are changeable through the theory. However, with B.F.Skinner’s further
development, the theory evolved to a meaning “a response is followed by a
reinforcing stimulus”.
Diagram of Operant Conditioning
This diagram is used to optimize the understanding of this learning
theory. There are two important branches for this theory.
1 .Reinforcement refers to activities or processes that will increase the
likelihood of behaviours by presenting or removing a stimulus during
processes. There are two kinds of reinforcement: Positive reinforcement and
negative reinforcement. First of all, to make it clear, negative or positive don’t
have to mean bad or good. In this theory, negative means removing stimulus
factors while positive means adding stimulus factors. Positive reinforcement
increases the frequency of a behaviour occur by presenting stimulus factors
as a response. Negative reinforcement also increases the frequency of a
behaviours occur but by removing stimulus factors as a response.
2.Punishment refers to activities or processes that decline the likelihood of
behaviours reoccur. Positive punishment is able to decrease the frequency of
a behaviour occur by presenting stimulus factors, while negative punishment
can increase the frequency of a behaviour occur by removing stimulus factors.
This diagram is used to help people understand how likelihood is
influenced by different factors, because many people feel confused about the
terms positive and negative. The diagram clearly shows their relationships.
Examples of Operant Conditioning
on education
Operant Conditioning plays an
important role in education area. It
affects teaching, learning and learning
design in a way helping educators and
learners to teach and learn. In terms of
teaching, discipline is a very important
term used in many different areas and
it is another form that embodies the
importance of Operant Conditioning.
Some people argue that discipline is a
hard version of using operant
conditioning to regulate students
through rules and standards. However,
a good use of Operant Conditioning in
teaching focus on both discipline and
motivation. In this theory, positive and
negative reinforcement are able to
motivate good and wanted behaviours,
and positive and negative
punishments are used to suppress
bad and unwanted behaviours.
Besides, Operant Conditioning helps teachers easily standardize
students’ behaviours and make legitimate judgements, which improve teaching
efficiency and effectiveness. For example, teacher can make clear regulation
in class such that students have to stand during the class if they were late, get
detention after class if students disturb the class and so on. With those
regulations, teachers don’t have to repeat those rules thus save more energy
and time on teaching them the knowledge. In terms of learning, Operant
Conditioning can provide a clear guidance to guide learners to pursue good
and wanted behaviours and warn them to avoid doing bad and unwanted
behaviours. The theory stimulates learners learning interest with positive
rewards while at the same time prevents unpleased learning experiences
through negative punishments. Take children as an example, teachers and
parents will reward them with candies or prizes if they finish their homework on
time. This behaviour will stimulate children realize that they need to do
homework on time to earn what they want. Reversely, if they don’t do
homework, teachers and parents will give them relative punishments. Children
as learners will then avoid this behaviour reoccur. In terms of learning design,
Operant Conditioning provides a clear pattern for both instructors and learners
to follow up including clear goal setup, disciplines and clear guidance.
Regulations on learning design ease learners and designers workload. This
theory provides a clear pattern for educators. For instance, teachers only need
to come up with appropriate rewards and punishments that can help them
stimulate students’ learning interests while suppress their bad habits at the
same time. It makes the learning design much easier compared to the
conventional method.
Learning assessment and
activities
Right now, readers should
have basic concept about how
this theory works and its
functionalities. The following
activities can be used to access
the learning outcomes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v
=Mt4N9GSBoMI
(watch it)
This is a short clip of Big Bang Theory - Operant Conditioning. Readers
should be able to explain how Sheldon tease Penny with this theory.
Readers can write down their thoughts and outcomes in this book’s feedback
section.
Reference :
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(n.d.) Retrieved June 21 , 201 5, from
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operant_conditioning
Sincero, S. M. ( 2011 ). Operant Conditioning. Retrieved Jun 21 , 201 5 from
Explorable.com: https://explorable.com/operant-conditioning
Staddon, J., & Cerutti, D. (n.d.). Operant Conditioning. Retrieved June 21 , 201 5,
from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1 473025/
McLeod, S. A. (201 5). Skinner - Operant Conditioning. Retrieved from
www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html
Cherry, K. A. (2005). Operant conditioning. Retrieved from
http://psychology.about.com/od/behavioralpsychology/a/introopcond.htm