...“Education is what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten” -B.F. Skinner Behaviorism is described as a developmental theory that measures observable behaviors produced by a learner’s response to stimuli. Responses to stimuli can be reinforced with positive or negative feedback to condition desired behaviors. Punishment is sometimes used in eliminating or reducing incorrect actions, followed by clarifying desired actions. Educational effects of behaviorism are key in developing basic skills and foundations of understanding in all subject areas and in classroom management. According to behaviorism, knowing is giving the correct response when exposed to a particular stimulus. The behaviorist is not concerned with how or why knowledge is obtained, but rather if the correct response is given. Yu Ching Chen’s web site on behaviorism states that, “Learning is defined as nothing more than the acquisition of new behavior”. In terms of the concept of learning, the process tends to be passive with regard to the behaviorist theory. The learner uses low level processing skills to understand material and the material is often isolated from real-world contexts or situations. Little responsibility is placed on the learner concerning his/her own education. Typical classroom instruction consistent with the behaviorist theory includes; classroom management, rote memorization, and drill and practice. Several examples of behaviorism used in classroom management...
Words: 938 - Pages: 4
...west Tennessee. QCBS is expecting a 100 percent increase in the total amount of clients served. West Tennessee currently has 12 behavior support and management agencies that provide services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities and 5 that specialize in autism, as well as more than 20 residential service providers. The total amount of clients served by residential providers exceed 4500 with a waiting list that surpasses 2300 individuals that have been evaluated and are in need of services. Many of these future service recipients are located in mental health institutions while others are misplaced in array of nursing homes located in west Tennessee. QCBS has only been in business one year and is anticipating an increase in the budget for the total amount of service recipients served, or an additional $25,000. QCBS marketing initiative has the following objectives. * Maximize limited marketing monies to improve the exposure of their agency. * Increase the operating budget by 50% while maintaining current contracts at competitive prices. * Increase the number of potential service recipients by providing site observations and evaluations. Strengths QCBS has various resources that will encourage and support its initiative to increase the total amount of service recipients receiving behavior supports. The owner of the company worked at the West...
Words: 906 - Pages: 4
...Instructor’s Manual with Test Items to accompany Applied Behavior Analysis Second Edition John O. Cooper ● Timothy E. Heron ● William L. Heward All, The Ohio State University Prepared by Stephanie Peterson, Idaho State University ● Renée K. Van Norman, University of Nevada-Las Vegas ● Lloyd Peterson, Idaho State University ● Shannon Crozier, University of Nevada-Las Vegas ● Jessica E. Frieder, Idaho State University ● Peter Molino, Idaho State University ● Heath Ivers, Idaho State University ● Shawn Quigley, Idaho State University ● Megan Bryson, University of Nevada-Las Vegas ● David Bicard, University of Memphis [pic] Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Columbus, Ohio ____________________________________________________________ ______________________ Copyright © 2007 by Pearson Education, Inc., Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458. Pearson Prentice Hall. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication is protected by Copyright and permission should be obtained from the publisher prior to any prohibited reproduction, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or likewise. For information regarding permission(s), write to: Rights and Permissions Department. Pearson Prentice Hall™ is a trademark of Pearson Education, Inc. Pearson® is a registered trademark of Pearson plc Prentice Hall® is a registered trademark of Pearson Education...
Words: 75129 - Pages: 301
...According to Jones and Butman (2012) behavior therapy is one of the popular, empirically based theory that seeks to understand personality development. Behavior therapy seeks to ascertain causes of problem behaviors, and intercedes to eliminate or decrease the occurrences of these problem behaviors, in more effective and efficient ways, using appropriate scientific methods. Jones and Butman argue that behavior therapy originated from a behaviorism viewpoint, which assumes that the universe is made up of mater and energy. The behaviorism standpoint also assumes a reductionism, which proposes that complex phenomena can be broken down into simple elements. Proposing that human behavior can also be broken down into simple elemental processes that are easily comprehended and studied (Jones & Butman, 2012). Behavior therapy theorizes that the self is comprised of behavior pattern, reflexes, perceptions and impressions. Behavior therapy concepts like classical conditioning, operant learning, and social learning theory, proposes that human behavior can be learned and modified. A classical conditioning model suggests that humans have innate reflexes (unconditioned) that can be conditioned through repeated training. For example in the case of anxiety, Wolpe’s...
Words: 479 - Pages: 2
...influential psychologist in history. He developed the theory of operant conditioning, which is the idea that behavior is determined by its consequences, be they reinforcements or punishments, which make it more or less likely that the behavior will occur again. Skinner believed that the only scientific approach to psychology was the one that studied behaviors rather than studied internal mental processes. He wrote 5 books: The Behaviour of Organisms (1938), Walden Two (1948), Science and Human Behavior (1953), Verbal Behavior (1957), Beyond Freedom and Dignity (1971). B.F. Skinner was born March 20, 1904 in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania. His father was a lawyer. His mother was a stay at home mom while she watched over him and his brother. At an early age, Skinner showed interest in building things. He mostly liked building contraptions such as a cart with steering that went backwards, this happened by mistake of course. He also built a cabin in the woods with his friend as a young boy. He had a door to door business selling elderberries. He invented a flotation system to separate the ripe and green berries so that they would not be mixed up. During high school, he worked in a shoe store where he invented a contraption...
Words: 684 - Pages: 3
... The most notable theory from this time the Socratic Method, which consists of posing probing questions to students rather than espousing a hierarchy of knowledge. Brief History of its Founding Modern theories such as behaviorism, founded in the early twentieth century, are associated with theorists including Watson, Skinner, Pavlov and Thorndike. Watson known as the father of behaviorism proposed an alternative to the views of Wilhelm Wundt the founder of the discipline of psychology in1879. (Moore, 2011, p. 1). According to Moore, “Wundt assumed that the study of consciousness or subjective mental life was the appropriate subject matter for psychology.” (Moore, 2011, p. 1, para.1). Watson proposed that study and analysis should focus on observable behavior and that concerns with consciousness only hampered the process. (Driscoll, 2005, p. 31)...
Words: 35907 - Pages: 144
...the Edgar Pierce Professor of Psychology at Harvard University from 1958 until his retirement in 1974.[5] Skinner believed that human free will is an illusion and that any human action is the result of the consequences of the same action. If the consequences are bad, there is a high chance that the action will not be repeated; however if the consequences are good, the actions that led to it will become more probable.[6] Skinner called this the principle of reinforcement.[7] The use of reinforcement to strengthen behavior he called operant conditioning. As his main tool for studying operant conditioning Skinner The Skinners’ grave at Mount Auburn Cemetery invented the operant conditioning chamber, also known as the Skinner Box.[8] Skinner developed his own philosophy of science called radical behaviorism,[9] and founded a school of experimental research psychology—the experimental analysis of behavior. His analysis of human behavior culminated in his work Verbal Behavior, as well as his philosophical manifesto Walden Two, both of which still stimulate considerable experimental research and clinical application.[10] Contemporary academia considers Skinner a pioneer of modern behaviorism along with John B. Watson and Ivan Pavlov. Skinner emphasized rate of response as a dependent variable in psychological research. He invented the cumulative recorder to measure response rate as part of his highly influential work on schedules of reinforcement.[11][12] In a June 2002 survey, Skinner...
Words: 10359 - Pages: 42
...his daughter Deborah and named the air bed or the Skinner tender that was intended to help his wife ease some of the parenting duties such as waking in the middle of the night to add blankets to a cold baby, later sparked a backlash of criticism of Skinners work and false rumors about Deborah committing suicide. According to “B.F. Skinner Foundation” (2013) In 1938, Skinner wrote The Behavior of Organisms which “summarizes nearly ten years of research, spanning the years of Skinner's graduate school days at Harvard through his three years as a member of the Society of Fellows.” In 1945, Skinner became the Psychology Department Chair at the University of Indiana. Three years later he joined the psychology department at Harvard University where he remained for the duration of his life. It was at Harvard where Skinner’s inventions helped to shape his career in psychology and helped him to become one of the leaders in behaviorism. Behaviorism according to Dictionary.com (2013) is “the theory or doctrine that human or animal psychology can be accurately studied only through the examination and analysis of objectively observable and quantifiable behavioral events, in contrast with subjective mental states, in contrast with...
Words: 1070 - Pages: 5
...OSB: Chapter One Chapter one of Opening Skinner’s Box focuses on the namesake of the book, B.F. Skinner. The experiments described all focus on Skinner’s primary study, that of ‘operant conditioning’. Skinner brought into question the concept of free will, instead believing that all human decisions are the result of consequences, both positive and negative. He felt that through a system of positive reinforcement, entire countries could be changed to compliant citizens. In fact, the book tells us, he openly admitted that he hoped to one day use his studies for fascist goals in the nation. His primary experiment was conducted on rats that he placed in a box, and taught to step on a treadle to receive a food pellet. He experimented both with consistency, intervals, and random deliverance of the food and found that the rats did not cease to rely on the process to gain food. However, after cutting off the rewards, he found that the rats did indeed stop their efforts. Although the author of the book proceeds to interview esteemed colleagues who believe firmly in free will and dismiss Skinner’s theory, the overall mystery of the experiment remains. At first I was thrilled by the chapter and excited by the meshing of the author’s artistic writing and the scientific experiments and interviews she describes. However, I must say I enjoyed the project far less when writing a summary of the mere experiment. As a reader and student, the author’s style and stories added and enriched my experience...
Words: 450 - Pages: 2
...Synopsis Skinner addresses operant behavior in this article. Operant behavior refers to behavior that operates on the environment or is controllable by the individual. Skinner suggests that operant behavior usually affects the environment and generates stimuli which “feed back” to the organism. This feedback can be a reward and/or punishment (Skinner, 2012, p. 55). Skinner investigates this by using an aluminum box divided into two compartments. In one compartment, a pigeon is able to peck a translucent plastic plate behind a circular opening which is a delicate electric key. When pecked, the circuit is closed to operate recording and controlling equipment. Colored lights can be projected on the back of the plate as stimuli (Skinner, 2012, p. 54). Operant reinforcement is demonstrated when food is given to the pigeon when it pecks the key, which created the high probability of responding. If the food is not given when the pigeon pecks the key, the rate declines or may even stop all together. This is called operant conditioning or extinction. What happened when intermittent reinforcements, like fixed ratio or variable ratio reinforcement was used? This is where reinforcements are based on time and/or counters. Skinner relates this type of reinforcement to our everyday life and how few of the things we do always “pay off”. The dynamic characteristics of our behavior depend upon the actual schedules of reinforcement (Skinner, 2012, p. 55). The colored lights in the...
Words: 552 - Pages: 3
...learning in which animals is from the behavior or the way it acts witch also depends on its environment. In this behavior the animal would either increase or decrease by the following reinforcement that follows. Animal trainers apply Operant conditioning, if the animal performs a behavior that they want done again or the trainer will also give them a treat for doing this behavior. Humans learn in the same way for example if your teenager is supposed to come home from high school every day and/or chores around the house making the bed, washing close, doing dishes, vacuuming, if you do not reward her for this positive reinforcement will not follow and will probably stop altogether doing the chores around the house when she comes home from school. Positive reinforcement- when an animal does a behavior produces a positive stimulus if you reinforce the positive stimulus and you give the animal a treat then later on the animal is likely to always do the same favorable behavior over and over. The positive stimulus will know that you gave it positive reinforcement and will probably do the same behavior over when you like the animal to do it. Negative reinforcement this involves taking away the unfavorable stimulus, or in this case a negative reinforcement will increase what you would like the child not to do again and again. This is not like a punishment because punishments follow consequences good ones and bad ones. Positive reinforcement for a behavior that you want to happen again whenever...
Words: 406 - Pages: 2
...important historians to psychology, his work led to the development of behavior modification and behavior therapy which is a model that psychologist continue to apply and modify today. In the beginning with the social need for efficient psychotherapy soon developed a solid theoretical body of behavioral laws, Skinner indicated that in order to develop the appropriate path towards efficient intervention for unadaptive behavior new theories regarding about abnormal behavior and as well as procedural model for evaluations (Labrador, F. (2004). Behavior therapy continued to nourished by developments through experimental psychology, Skinner’s treatments offered many opportunities not just clients but as well researchers/psychologist to explore the newly lens developed. However, behavior modification and therapy had its limitation yet today it continues to have some modification still needed to be implement, it said that in order to acknowledge and pay a tribute to Skinner’s work is to overcome these limitation and further develop behavior therapy into an effective model (Wilson, G., & Agras, W. (1992). Rise of behavior modification & therapy The development of behavior modification and therapy was backed up by the work of Skinner, his techniques and experiments were based in operant conditioning and specifically practical developments that were all Skinner’s work (Labrador, F. (2004). The development of both behavior modification and therapy techniques came even before these two models...
Words: 2101 - Pages: 9
...situations. He put a rat in Skinner box and the rat would pull the lever, which in result the rat would receive food. The rat then realized that each time it pulled the lever; food will come out so it constantly kept pulling the lever (Wikipedia). Skinner's theory on punishment is that a positive reinforcement is more effective in changing and developing behavior than by using any form of punishment. Skinner believed that the main thing to learn from being punished is to avoid punishment altogether. Reinforcement is a concept in behaviorism and a common confusion is that negative reinforcement is synonymous with punishment. Positive reinforcement is strengthening the behavior while negative reinforcement is strengthening of behavior by removal of avoidance of an aversive event (Wikipedia). Although both types of reinforcement strengthen the behavior or either promotes the probability of the behavior to reoccur. One of Skinner's favorite experiments involved the pigeon and it was to demonstrate superstition. The bird would behave as if there was a casual relation between it’s behave as if there was a casual relation between its behavior and the presentation of food even when the relation was lacking. There are many...
Words: 311 - Pages: 2
...useful devices like the cumulative recorder, even in his old age he invented a thinking aid to help with writing. Skinner showed the positive reinforcement by placing a hungry rat in the Skinner box. This box contained a lever with food as the rat moved inside the box the lever would drop the food to a container next to it. The consequence was that the rat would repeat the behavior again and again. A good example to picture this would be thinking of a daily basis situation every time you do something good you get a reward, so then the same action becomes a daily thing so you can get rewarded more often. The negative side is that if one day you don’t do the right thing then you won’t get reward and then the habit might be broken. The opposite of reinforcement is punishment this can also work directly by doing something unpleasant stimulus. For example if the children don’t behave then they get put in time out and they won’t get to do something they enjoy. Superstitious behavior arises when the delivery of reinforcement and punisher occurs close together in time with an independent behavior. For example bad luck you do something and then something bad happens. After many years of contribution to psychology F. B Skinner died in 1990 at the age of eighty six years old. In 2002 he was the most...
Words: 327 - Pages: 2
...Psychological Analysis of Punctuality at School: What LPCI stands for: "Amor Doctrinae Floreat" (Let the love of learning flourish) For over seventy-five years, Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute has been a top ranked school in the TDSB and an important part of the community. It is said to be the 'private school of public schools' in Toronto because of the schools amazing Academic programs and wide variety of extra-curricular programs. LPCI is very proud of their students and their achievements while recognizing that there is always room for growth and improvement. The school's goal is to always look for ways to engage and enhance the achievement of each of the students. To do so, the staff of LPCI are always finding ways to address important issues in the school and solve the problem as best as possible. Punctuality at the school: It has always been the policy of Lawrence Park to encourage good attendance and punctuality. The definition of punctuality is the action of being on time. Punctuality revolves around responsibility, commitment, attentiveness and the seriousness with which you take. Punctuality is a necessity for success, one of the great values of it is that it gives discipline to life. It is especially important to enforce punctuality in high school because it is a habit developed at a young age. Why is good attendance/punctuality so important? A good education gives your child the best possible start in life. If your child goes to school...
Words: 898 - Pages: 4
