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operant conditioning), giving examples of how each can be used in the classroom.
Behavioral Learning Theory According to the behaviorists, learning can be defined as the relatively permanent change in behavior brought about as a result of experience or practice. Behaviorists recognize that learning is an internal event. However, it is not recognized as learning until it is displayed by overt behavior.
Behavioral Learning Theory The term "learning theory" is often associated with the behavioral view. The focus of the behavioral approach is on how the environment impacts overt behavior. Remember that biological maturation or genetics is an alternative explanation for relatively permanent change.
Behavioral Learning Theory The behavioral learning theory is represented as an S-R paradigm. The organism is treated as a black box. We only know what is going on inside the box by the organisms overt behavior.
Stimulus (S) Organism (O) Response (R)
Behavioral Learning Theory The feedback loop that connects overt behavior to stimuli that activate the senses has been studied extensively from this perspective.
Behavioral Learning Theory Notice that the behaviorists are only interested in that aspect of feedback that connects directly to overt behavior. Behaviorists are not interested in the conscious decision of the individual to disrupt, modify, or go against the conditioning process.
Behavioral Learning Theory There are three types of behavioral learning theories: Contiguity theory Classical or respondent conditioning theory Operant or instrumental conditioning theory
Contiguity Theory
Contiguity theory is based on the work of E. R. Guthrie. It proposes that any stimulus and response connected in time and/or space will tend to be associated.
Contiguity Theory Examples: A baseball player wearing a certain pair of socks on the day he hits three home runs associates wearing the socks and hitting home runs. A student making a good grade on a test after trying a new study technique makes an association between the stimulus of studying and the response of getting a good grade.
Contiguity Theory
Guthries contiguity theory is one foundation for the more cognitivelyoriented learning theory of neural networks.