Behaviorism

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Behaviorism

• EDU 330 Educational Psychology
• Daniel Moos

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Behaviorism Introduction
Tim failed his algebra quiz, and he was
devastated and anxious. He was then anxious again
during his next quiz.
Tim learned to be anxious in quizzes
Youre out on a lake, you fall overboard, nearly
drown, and are terrified. The next time youre
near a large body of water you feel a sense of
fear similar to the one you experienced in your
boating accident.
You learned to fear water.
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Behaviorism Constructs (I)

• Behaviorism Explains learning in terms of
  observable behaviors based on environmental
  stimuli
• Learning Change in observable behavior that
  occurs as a result of experience (Schunk, 2004)
• Classical conditioning Occurs when an individual
  learns to produce an involuntary emotional
  response
• Unconditioned stimulus (UCS) Object/event that
  causes instinctive (unlearned) physiological or
  emotional response
• Unconditioned response (UCR) The instinctive
  (unlearned) response caused by the unconditioned
  stimulus
• Conditioned stimulus (CS) Object/event that
  becomes associated with unconditioned response
• Conditioned response (CR) A learned
  physiological/emotional response that is similar
  to unconditioned response

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Behaviorism Constructs (II)

• Youre out on a lake, you fall overboard, nearly
  drown, and are terrified. The next time youre
  near a large body of water you feel a sense of
  fear similar to the one you experienced in your
  boating accident.

Accident
Terror
Water
Fear
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Behaviorism Constructs (III)
In order to help new 6th grade students with the
transition to middle school, the teachers meet
the students the first few days of school and
help them find their way around. Natashas mother
drops her off the first day, and Natasha waves to
her mother uneasily as she walks towards the
school. Mrs. Rodriquez greets her at the entrance
of the main building, smiles at Natasha
reassuringly. Seeing the way Mrs. Rodriguez
behaves, Natasha feels much better. Each day,
Mrs. Rodriquez greets Natasha with the same smile
and reassuring manner. Now, Natasha jumps out of
the car and feels quite relaxed as she enter Mrs.
Rodriquezs classroom
UCS Mrs. Rodriguezs manner UCR Feeling
better CS Mrs. Rodriguezs classroom CR
Relaxed
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Behaviorism Operant conditioning (I)

• Operant conditioning Form of learning in which
  an observable response changes in frequency or
  duration as the result of a consequence
• Consequences Learners actions controlled more
  by consequences, defined as outcomes that occur
  after behaviors

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Behaviorism Operant conditioning (III)

• Reinforcement Increase the likelihood
• Positive (receiving) Praise, high test scores,
  good grades
• Negative (removing) Allowing them to avoid a
  homework assignment because of their
  conscientious work
• Punishment Decrease the likelihood
• Presentation (receiving) Reprimands, such as
  being told Shhh
• Removal (removing) Loss of privileges, timeout,
  detention

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An algebra teacher guides students through steps
for solving equations and praises students for
every correct answer.
The algebra teacher says, As soon as youve
correctly done two problems in a row, you may
start on your homework, so youll be finished by
the end of the period.
A student raises her hand to answer questions,
and sometimes shes called on, and sometimes
she isnt.
Students are given a quiz every Friday, and
they receive their score every Monday.
Students are given unannounced quizzes, and
sometimes the quizzes are returned the next day,
and at other times they are returned a day or two
later.
WORKSHEET
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Behaviorism Effective application (I)
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Behaviorism Effective application (II)

• Should you completely eliminate punishment?
• Desists Verbal/nonverbal communications use to
  stop behaviors (i.e. Shh) administer briefly,
  immediately, and unemotionally
• Timeout Removing a student from the class
• Detention Involves taking away some of students
  free time
• Response cost Removal of reinforcers already
  given (i.e. removing tokens)

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Behaviorism Effective application (III)

• Ineffective forms of punishment
• Physical punishment
• Embarrassment
• Class work
• Antecedents (vs. consequences) Stimuli that
  precede and signal or induce behaviors
• Environmental conditions
• Prompts Cues
• Generalizations Discrimination

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Behaviorism Application

• Applied behavior analysis (ABA) Systematically
  applying the principles of behaviorism to change
  student behavior (aka behavior modification
  Baldwin Baldwin, 2001)
• Steps
• Identify target behaviors
• Establish a baseline for target behaviors
• Choose reinforces and punishers
• Measure changes in target behaviors
• Gradually reduce the frequency of reinforcers as
  behavior improves
• See page 176

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Behaviorism Issues

• Can behaviorism effectively serve as a guide for
  instruction in all domains?
• When you learn to write, is it through
  reinforcement of specific, decontextualized
  items of information (i.e. grammar) and/or
  practicing in meaningful contexts?
• Is all learning a product of reinforcement?
• What about misconceptions?
• What about language development?
• External reinforcement has negative correlation
  with intrinsically motivating activities
• If students are driven/ accustomed to external
  reinforces, what will happen to their learning
  for the sake of learning?

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Behaviorism Thought Question 1

• Teachers are discouraged from giving students
  writing assignments as a form for misbehavior.
  Explain why using writing assignments as
  punishment is unwise.
• A teacher says, Okay, everyone. Youve done such
  a good job turning in your homework this week
  that you do not have to do your assignment for
  the weekend. Well do it on Monday instead. (a)
  What concept from behaviorism is the teacher
  attempting to apply in this case? (b) What is the
  teachers goal in making this statement? (c) Do
  you support the teachers decision?
• What reinforcement schedule is best illustrated
  by people playing slot machines?