Evaluation

• Well-controlled research - point

  One strength of the behaviourist approach is the methods that are used and that it is based on well-controlled research
• Well-controlled research - evidence

  Behaviourists focused on the measurement of observable behaviour within lab conditions, being insistent on objectivity, and control over variables.
• Well-controlled research - explain

  This allows for cause and effect relationships to be established. This means experiments carried out by behaviourists are very reliable, which suggest these experiments have scientific credibility
• Counterpoint


  However, the problems with this is that behaviourists the studies are artificial, which do not reflect real-life contexts very well and therefore lack ecological validity.

  Behaviourists may have also oversimplified the learning process by reducing behaviour down to such simple components, they may have ignored an important influence on learning - human thought. Other approaches such as SLT and the cognitive approach draw attention to mental processes, suggesting that learning is more complex than observable behaviour alone.
• Real world application - point

  Another strength of the behaviourist approach is that the principles of conditioning have been applied to real-world behaviours and problems
• Real world application - evidence

  For example, operant conditioning is the basis of token economy systems that have been successfully used in institutions, such as prisons and psychiatric wards
• Real world application - explain


  These work by rewarding appropriate behaviour with tokens that can be exchanged for privileges. Alloyen and Azrin's (1968) study found that this positive reinforcement led to a significant increase in the number of target behaviours the patients produced. Therefore, this increases the value of the behaviourist approach because it has wide spread application.
• Too deterministic - point

  One limitation of the behaviourist approach is that it ignores the influence of mental processes and sees all behaviour as being conditioned by past experiences
• Too deterministic - evidence

  Skinner suggested that everything we do is a sum of our past reinforcement history. When something happens, according to Skinner, our past conditioning history determines the outcome.
• Too deterministic - explain


  This ignores any possible influence that free-will has on our behaviour as Skinner himself called free-will an 'illusion'. This is an extreme position and ignores the influence of conscious decision-making as suggested by the cognitive approach.
• What is a criticism of behaviorism regarding the learning process?

  Behaviorism oversimplifies the learning process by ignoring human thought.
• Which approaches highlight the importance of mental processes in learning?

  Social Learning Theory (SLT) and the cognitive approach.
• How do SLT and the cognitive approach differ from behaviorism in terms of learning?

  They suggest that learning is more complex than observable behavior alone.
• What does behaviorism fail to explain about problem-solving?

  It does not explain how we can solve problems without trial and error.
• What implication does the inability to solve problems without trial and error have on behaviorism?

  It suggests that mental processes are involved in learning.
• What is the main focus of behaviorism in learning?

  Behaviorism focuses on observable behavior.