Introduction to operant conditioning Year One

Who developed operant conditioning theory ?

• Thorndike

• Skinner

• Pavlov

Skinner developed Thorndike's concept of behaviour learnt through?

• shaping

• classical conditioning

• trial and error

If the effect of learning is good (e.g. obtaining food), then behaviour is learnt and repeated.

What did Thorndike call this?

• Law of effect

• Law of consequences

• Law of rewards

According to Skinner's opernat conditioning, there are two main consequences of behaviour. What are they?

• reinforcers and schedules

• reinforcers and punishers

• punishers and intervals

What is positive reinforcement?

• Taking away something unpleasant following a desired behaviour

• Giving something unpleasant following an undesired behaviour

• Giving something pleasurable following a desired behaviour, e.g. food

Negative reinforcement is when?

• Removal of something unpleasant in response to desired behaviour

• Giving something unpleasant (e.g. telling child off) as a result of undesirable behaviour

Positive punishment is?

• Something bad/undesired is given (telling off) and the unwanted behaviour is stopped

• Something good/desired is taken away and the unwanted behaviour is stopped