Operant Conditioning

• Who first investigated operant conditioning?

  1. F. Skinner
• What is the primary mechanism of learning in operant conditioning?


  Learning via reinforcement
• How can behavior be increased or decreased in operant conditioning?

  Behavior can be increased via rewards or decreased via punishments
• How does reinforcement affect behavior according to operant conditioning?

  Reinforcement always increases behavior
• What are the two types of reinforcement in operant conditioning?

  Positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement
• What is punishment in the context of operant conditioning?

  Punishment is when a behavior results in an unpleasant consequence
• What is one strength of operant conditioning?

  It uses experimental methods.
• What is operant conditioning?

  Learning via reinforcement
• Who proposed operant conditioning?

  Skinner
• What was the condition of the floor in the glass box during the experiment?

  It was electrified, hurting the rats
• What happened when the lever was pressed by the rats?

  The electricity would stop, relieving pain
• How did the rats learn to press the lever?

  Through negative reinforcement by removing pain
• What type of learning is demonstrated by the rats pressing the lever?

  Negative reinforcement learning