AO1 and AO2

• the aim of skinners box is to test if behaviour of animals is more likely to be repeated if followed by pleasant consequences
• the box contained a food dispenser which allowed food pellets to be given to animals there was also a lever
• before learning took place rats were put in the box for short periods of time to get used to it
• food they received were rationed
• found that rats had investigatory behaviour when put in box
• found that the rats that were in the box for an hour would take 9 mins and 45s on average to find the lever
• found that by the end of the hour they pressed the lever on average every 16s
• concluded that positive reinforcement strengthens behaviour throug providing a reward
• concluded that negative rienforcement strengthens behaviour with the removal of something unpleasant