Sample presentation

1. B.F. SkinnerB.F. Skinner
Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning
ByBy
Jenifer FloresJenifer Flores
Patricia GuardadoPatricia Guardado
VickyVicky

2. IntroductionIntroduction
 Skinner’s Theory is based on the idea thatSkinner’s Theory is based on the idea that
learning is a function of change in overtlearning is a function of change in overt
BehaviorBehavior
 Skinner’s Theory is known as OperantSkinner’s Theory is known as Operant
ConditioningConditioning
 Operant Conditioning is distinct in that theOperant Conditioning is distinct in that the
organism can emit responses, instead oforganism can emit responses, instead of
eliciting a response due to an externaleliciting a response due to an external
stimulus.stimulus.

3. TerminologyTerminology
 Organism in this presentation will refer toOrganism in this presentation will refer to
animals in experiments and students andanimals in experiments and students and
children.children.
 External Stimulus: A signal that originatesExternal Stimulus: A signal that originates
from outside and organism (students,from outside and organism (students,
animals)animals)
 Stimulus Response: Anything thatStimulus Response: Anything that
strengthens a desired response, isstrengthens a desired response, is
reinforcement, such as verbal prais.reinforcement, such as verbal prais.

4. Terminology Cont’dTerminology Cont’d
 Negative Reinforcement: Any stimulus thatNegative Reinforcement: Any stimulus that
promotes increased frequency of apromotes increased frequency of a
response. It is not punishment.response. It is not punishment.

5. Distinctive Aspect of Skinner’sDistinctive Aspect of Skinner’s
TheoryTheory
 Skinner’s Theory attempted to provideSkinner’s Theory attempted to provide
Behavioral explanations for a range ofBehavioral explanations for a range of
cognitive phenomena, such as drivecognitive phenomena, such as drive
(motivation), in terms of deprivation.(motivation), in terms of deprivation.

6. Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning
 http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.cohttp://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co
.uk/operant-conditioning.html.uk/operant-conditioning.html
 Skinner believedSkinner believed that we do have such athat we do have such a
thing as a mind, but that it is simply morething as a mind, but that it is simply more
productive to study observable behaviour ratherproductive to study observable behaviour rather
than internal mental events.than internal mental events.
 Skinner believed that the best way to understandSkinner believed that the best way to understand
behavior is to look at the acuse of an action andbehavior is to look at the acuse of an action and
its consequences. (operant conditioning)its consequences. (operant conditioning)

7. Operant Conditioning ContinuedOperant Conditioning Continued
 Based on the work of Edward Thorndike.Based on the work of Edward Thorndike.
 Studied learning in animals (cats) by using a puzzleStudied learning in animals (cats) by using a puzzle
box to propose the theory ‘Law of Effect’box to propose the theory ‘Law of Effect’
 Law of Effect stated that nay behavior that is followedLaw of Effect stated that nay behavior that is followed
by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated,by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated,
and nay behavior followed by unpleasantand nay behavior followed by unpleasant
consequences is likely to be stopped.consequences is likely to be stopped.
 Law of Effect lead to the development of operantLaw of Effect lead to the development of operant
conditioning, within behaviorism.conditioning, within behaviorism.

8. Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning
 http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.cohttp://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blueyonder.co
.uk/edward-thorndike.html.uk/edward-thorndike.html
 Skinner is regarded as the father ofSkinner is regarded as the father of
Operant Conditioning, but his work wasOperant Conditioning, but his work was
based on Thorndike’s law of effect.based on Thorndike’s law of effect.
 Skinner introduced a new term into the Law ofSkinner introduced a new term into the Law of
EffectEffect - Reinforcement. Behaviour which is- Reinforcement. Behaviour which is
reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e.reinforced tends to be repeated (i.e.
strengthened); behaviour which is not reinforcedstrengthened); behaviour which is not reinforced
tends to die out-or be extinguished (i.e.tends to die out-or be extinguished (i.e.
weakened).weakened).

9. Skinner’s Three Type of Responses ThatSkinner’s Three Type of Responses That
Can Follow BehaviorCan Follow Behavior
 Neutral OperantsNeutral Operants
 Neither increase nor decrease the probability of aNeither increase nor decrease the probability of a
beharior being repeated.beharior being repeated.
 Reinforcers:Reinforcers:
 Responses from the environment that increase theResponses from the environment that increase the
probability of a behavior being repeateedprobability of a behavior being repeateed
 PunishersPunishers
 Response fron the environment that decrease theResponse fron the environment that decrease the
likelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishmentlikelihood of a behavior being repeated. Punishment
weakens behavior.weakens behavior.

10. Negative ReinforcementNegative Reinforcement
 The removal of an unpleasant reinforcerThe removal of an unpleasant reinforcer
can also strengthen behaviour. This iscan also strengthen behaviour. This is
known asknown as Negative ReinforcementNegative Reinforcement
because it is thebecause it is the removal of anremoval of an
adverse stimulusadverse stimulus which is ‘rewarding’ towhich is ‘rewarding’ to
the animal. Negative reinforcementthe animal. Negative reinforcement
strengthens behaviour because it stops orstrengthens behaviour because it stops or
removes an unpleasant experience.removes an unpleasant experience.

11. Summary of Skinner’s OperantSummary of Skinner’s Operant
ConditioningConditioning
 Behaviorism is primarily concerned withBehaviorism is primarily concerned with
observable behavior, as opposed toobservable behavior, as opposed to
internal events like thinking and emotion.internal events like thinking and emotion.
 The major influence on human behavior isThe major influence on human behavior is
learning from our environment.learning from our environment.
 Ex: In Skinner’s study, because food follwoedEx: In Skinner’s study, because food follwoed
a particular behavior the rats learned toa particular behavior the rats learned to
repeat that behavior.repeat that behavior.

12. LINKS FOR OPERANTLINKS FOR OPERANT
CONDITIONINGCONDITIONING
 http://www.simplypsychology.pwp.blhttp://www.simplypsychology.pwp.bl
ueyonder.co.uk/Operantueyonder.co.uk/Operant
%20Conditioning.pdf%20Conditioning.pdf
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?http://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=I_ctJqjlrHA&feature=player_embev=I_ctJqjlrHA&feature=player_embe
ddeddded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I_ctJqjlrHA&feature=player_embedded

13. Skinner’s Theory Implications forSkinner’s Theory Implications for
Instructional TechnologyInstructional Technology
 Article: Direct Instruction Revisited: A Key Model
for Instructional Technology, by Susan G.
Magliaro, Barbara B. Lockee & John K. Burton
 Rooted in behavioral theory, particularly the
radical or selectivist behaviorism of B.F.
Skinner (1953, 1954, 1966, 1968, 1974), the
direct instruction (DI) approach to teaching is
now well into its third decade of influencing
curriculum, instruction, and research.

14.  I will insert the implications of Skinner’sI will insert the implications of Skinner’s
theory in Direct Instruction today and fortheory in Direct Instruction today and for
Instructional Technology, from my articleInstructional Technology, from my article