Skinner

• Positive reinforcement- encouraging/ establishing a pattern of behaviour by offering a stimulus when the behaviour is shown
• Operant conditioning- a type of learning through consequences, reinforcement where behaviour is more likely to happen or a punishment where behaviour is less likely to happen
• Investigating positive reinforcement (Skinner's Box):

  • Rat accidentally presses the lever while exploring the Skinner Box
  • Food pellet delivered
  • Rat learns that pressing the lever results in receiving a food pellet, and is more likely to repeat the behaviour
• Negative reinforcement- encouraging/ establishing a pattern of specific behaviour by removing a stimulus when the behaviour is shown
• Investigating negative reinforcement:

  • Electrified floor turned on in box, rat experiences discomfort
  • Rat accidentally presses lever while trying to escape from discomfort
  • Electrified floor is turned off for a short time
  • Rat learns that pressing the lever turns the electrified floor off, meaning it is more likely to repeat the behaviour
• Evaluation of Skinner's research:

  • Low generalisability- use of animals means that their behaviour can't be compared to humans
  • High replicability- setting of the box can be easily recreated due to high control of variables and standardised methods
  • Application- shows existence of operant conditioning and where it is the most or least effective
• Evaluation of Skinner's research:

  • High internal validity- high control of variables which ensures cause and effect can be shown
  • Low external validity- cannot be put into a human context as animals don't understand their behaviour
  • Unethical- animals put in stressful situations and discomfort