Operant conditioning

• Operant conditioning is an associationist or connectionist view of learning.
• Skinner (1964) found that conditioning was more effective through manipulation of behaviours towards a stimulus.
• Operant conditioning is learning through trial and error.
• Operant conditioning is about shaping , then reinforcing behaviours.
• You have to manipulate the environment to shape behaviour

  Eg - " if you do your homework you can play xbox"
• Operant conditioning involves the learner forming and strengthening the S-R bond
• Positive reinforcement is given when the desired response occurs.
• Positive reinforcement increases the chance of the response happening again.
• Positive reinforcement may be praise (intangible reward) or a reward (tangible) eg - certificate , money or trophy
• Positive reinforcement is sometimes called a satisfier.
• Negative reinforcement is an undesirable response given from the coach following the incorrect response from the learner
• Negative reinforcement is withdrawn when the desired response occurs
• Punishment gives the performer an unpleasant stimulus to prevent a particular response from occuring again .
• Punishment is a stimulus to prevent a response occurring

  Eg - " if you give the ball away again you'll be substituted"
• Thorndike's Laws can be used to explain how and why reinforcement and punishment work.
• Positives of Operant conditioning

  • Reasonably quick and effective
  • Good for simple movement tasks or responses
  • Good for the young who respond well to positive reinforcement
• Negatives of Operant Conditioning

  • Leads to prescriptive/automatic responses that cant adapt to different situations
  • Too much positive reinforcement can lead to arrogance
  • Doesn't develop intrinsic motivation
• Conditioning only takes place if reinforcements are present.