B.F.

Skinner’s
Operant Conditioning
by
Malyn C. Singson
 Topics
- Definition of Behaviorism
- Definition of Learning
- Three (3) major types of Learning
a. Learning by association or Classical Conditioning
b. Learning by consequences or Operant Conditioning
c. Learning through Observation or Modeling
- Definition of Operant Conditioning
- Behaviorism Theory
- B. F. Skinner
- E. Thorndike “The Law of Effect Principle”
- Diagram of Operant Conditioning
- Types of Operant Conditioning
a. Reinforcement
b. Punishment
- Comparing Positive and Negative Reinforcement
- Basic Principles of Operant Conditioning
a. Primary Reinforcement
b. Secondary Reinforcement
- Reinforcement Schedule/s
- Four (4) important Principles in Operant Conditioning
a. Principle of Immediacy
b. Principle of Satiation/Deprivation
c. Principle of Contingency
d. Principle of Size
I. Behaviorism

- Is a theory of learning based upon the

idea that all behaviors are acquired
through conditioning. Conditioning
occurs through interaction with the
environment.
- also known as Behavioral Psychology.
II. Learning

- acquiring new, or modifying and

reinforcing, existing knowledge,
behavior, skills, values or preferences
and may involve synthesizing different
types of information.
III. Three Major Types of Learning
Components
of Learning by association/
Conditioning Classical Conditioning

Learning by consequences/
Operant Conditioning

Learning through modeling/

Observational Learning
IV. Operant Conditioning

- is the type of
learning in which
behaviors are
emitted to earn
rewards or avoid
punishment.

“ Instrumental Learning”
Example of Operant Conditioning

If you give your

child a treat
(reinforcer) after she
sits quietly at the table
(the desired response
or target behavior), she
is likely to sit quietly at
the table again next
time.
V. Behaviorism Theory:
 Primary Focus
- Observable behavior
- Stimulus-response connections
 Assumptions
- Learning is a result of environmental forces
 Major Theorists
- Pavlov
- Watson
- Thorndike
- Skinner
VI. Burrhus Frederic (B. F.) Skinner
(March 20, 1904 – August 18, 1990)

 American psychologist,
behaviorist, inventor, author
and social philosopher.

 He was the Edgar Pierce

Professor of Psychology at
Harvard University from
1958 1974.
 Inventions of BF Skinner

Project
Aircrib
Pigeon

Operant
Chamber/ Cumulative
Skinners box recorder
VII.

Edward
Thorndike
“THE LAW OF
EFFECT
PRINCIPLE “
(Rewarded behavior)
The LAW OF EFFECT PRINCIPLE
1. If particular behavior is
powered by desirable
consequences or reward it
is more likely to happen
again. Behavior has a better
way to reinforced.
2. If particular behavior is
followed by an undesirable
consequences or
punishment that behavior
is likely to happen again in
the future.
 VIII. Diagram of Operant Conditioning
Operant Conditioning

Reinforcement Punishment
+ Behavior - Behavior

POSITIVE POSITIVE NEGATIVE

ADD Appetative NEGATIVE ADD Unpleasant REMOVE
stimulus following Stimuli following Appetite stimulus
correct behavior behavior following behavior
Giving a food when the dog sits. Spanking a child for cursing

Escape Active Avoidance Telling a child to go to his room

Remove Behavior avoids for fighting her sister

unpleasant stimuli noxious stimulus

following correct following correct
behavior
behavior
Turning off an alarm clock the push Studying to avoid getting a bad grades
button to stop
IX. Components of Operant Conditioning
1. Reinforcement
- is something that happens after a behavior or event that
strengthens or increases behavior likely to occur again.

1.a. Positive reinforcement

(reward/praise) are
favorable events or outcomes
that are presented after the
behavior. A behavior is
strengthened by the addition
of something.

Giving a child a compliment for a job well done.

 Components of Operant Conditioning

2.b Negative reinforcement

(removal) In these situations,
a response is strengthened by
the removal of something
considered unpleasant. (e.g.
headache –by taking aspirin
headache gone)

By taking aspirin headache takes

away the pain)
X. Comparing Positive and
Negative Reinforcement

PROCESS OPERANT CONDITIONING EFFECT ON

BEHAVIOR
Positive Studying to make Make Dean’s list Increase studying
Reinforcement Dean’s list in the future

Negative Studying to avoid Avoid loss of Increase studying

Reinforcement losing academic academic in the future
scholarship scholarship
 Types of Operant Conditioning

2. Punishment
 is the presentation of an adverse event or outcome
that causes a decrease in the behavior it follows.

2.a. Positive punishment

(treat) referred to as
punishment by application,
involves the presentation of
unfavorable event or
outcome in order to weaken
the response it follows.
Burning your hand when you
touch a hot stove
 Types of Operant Conditioning

2.b. Negative punishment

(taking away
annoying/painful) known
as punishment by removal,
occurs when an favorable
event or outcome is
removed after behavior
occurs.

Teen is grounded for

misbehavior
XI. Basic Principles of Operant Conditioning

 Primary Reinforcers:
known without being
learned. Biological needs
 Secondary Reinforcers:
(e.g. food, water) learned value. Conditioned
reinforcement (e.g. money, praise)
XII. Reinforcement Schedules
- are the precise rules that are used to present (or to
remove) reinforcers (or punishers) following a
specified operant behavior. These rules are defined
in terms of the time and/or the number of
responses required in order to present (or to
remove) a reinforcer (or a punisher).
 Reinforcing the desired response every time it
occurs.
 Reinforced
through single time
Reinforcement Schedules
it occurs. Best used
during initial stages
to create strong
association between
behavior and
response.
Fixed
ratio

Continuous Variable
ratio

Partial Fixed
interval

Reinforced through Variable

only part of the time. interval
Learned behavior are
acquired more
slowly.
XIII. Four Important Principles
in Operant Conditioning

1. Principle of Immediacy
2. Principle of Satiation
3. Principle of Contingency
4. Principle of Size
 Four Important Principles
in Operant Conditioning

1. Principle of Immediacy
is behavior that brings the instructor and the
-
students closer together in terms of perceived distance.

 Non-verbal immediacy includes

behaviors such as smiling, gesturing,
moves around the class while teaching
and having relaxed body language.
 Verbal immediacy refers to calling on by
the students or asks students how they
feel about things.
 Four Important Principles
in Operant Conditioning

2. Principle of Deprivation/Satiation
 Deprivation : Not having access to something that is
highly desirable.
 Satiation - is the opposite of deprivation; refers to
having too much.
 Four Important Principles
in Operant Conditioning

3. Principle of Contingency
- a future event or circumstance that is possible but
cannot be predicted with certainty.

4. Principle of Size
- The cost-benefit" determinant of whether a
consequence will be effective.
If the size, or amount, of the consequence is large
enough to be worth the effort, the consequence will
be more effective upon the behavior.
Key Concept of Operant Conditioning

 Shaping:
- is a process of
reinforcing a series of
responses that
increasingly
resemble the desired
behavior.
Major Principle
Repetition and consistency are essential to obtaining
desired behavior and increasing speed of learning. One’s
habit can be broken if the positive reinforcement that is
connected to the behavior is removed. Retention of what
was learned be obtained through intermittent
reinforcement.
Application
A teacher providing clear and direct instruction with sub tasks
supporting learning objectives are more apt to obtain the
desired results. Regardless your beliefs, behavior has played
an important role in education and psychological history.