Operant Conditioning BF Skinner (1904-1990) y y Developed a theory of learning Operant Conditioning (behaviour) o Or Instrumental Conditioning o Subject is active and

behaves in a way that produces a reward=learning occurs as a consequence of action o Compared to classical where a subject is restrained behaviour is influenced/reinforced by the experiment o Response satisfies a need=reward o Related to TRIAL-AND-ERROR LEARNING  By Edward L. Thorndike American Psychologist  Subject attempts to solve a problem by trying different actions until one proves successful  Subject behaves in a way that is instrumental in producing a reward  Thorndike s Law of effect y Certain responses are influenced by reward therefore the organism learns from these experiences