PSYC 1010 Midterm: operant conditioning revision notes

• School: York University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1010
• Professor: ozzy mermut

Document Summary

To be able to outline the theory associated with operant conditioning. Learning outcomes: be able to outline (ao1) this classic study, be able to apply (ao2) knowledge to real life examples of learning, be able to discuss (ao3) the strengths and weaknesses of this theory. Operant conditioning is different to classical conditioning because it looks at learning of voluntary behaviour (whereas classical conditioning looks at learning as a passive / involuntary process). It looks how we learn through positive and negative reinforcement, as well as through punishments. Primary reinforcement: the reward fulfils a basic need (food / water). Secondary reinforcement: the reward does not satisfy a basic need, but can be used this way (money to buy food). Shaping is when behaviour is arrived at by: Then waiting for an action that is even closer to that behaviour. Finally waiting for the actual behaviour before reinforcing. Schedule of reinforcement: continuous reinforcement, interval-fixed, interval-variable, ratio-fixed, ratio-variable.