Tan, Patrick Ray C.

BSN1-A
210096
Theories chosen:
Classical Conditioning Theory
Trial and Error Theory

1. Introduction of each of the two theories:

The classical conditioning theory of learning by Ivan Pavlov describes a
form of learning where associating a condition or stimulus with a particular
reaction or response can result in learning. Human behavior is shaped by
habits we pick up in response to certain situations in life and is the outcome
of learning by this theory. This theory has four main elements: 1. a stimulus
that naturally provokes an involuntary behavior is an unconditioned
stimulus. 2. A natural response that automatically occurs in reaction to the
unconditioned stimulus is the unconditioned response. 3. A neutral stimulus
that when paired with the unconditioned stimulus will start eliciting a
response is called a conditioned stimulus, and 4. The conditioned response
is the learned response to the conditioned stimulus.

On the other hand, Thorndike stated that learning takes place by trial and
error. Accordingly, a man adopts the method of trial and error when no
ready-made solution to a problem is available to the learner. He first tries
one solution. If it does not help him, he rejects it, then, he tries another, and
so on. In this way, he eliminates errors or irrelevant options which do not
serve the purpose and finally discovers the correct solution. Thus, in a trial
and error method, the learner makes random activities and finally reaches
the goal accidentally.

2. What are the similarities of the theories?

The main idea of the two theories is that learning is achieved based upon
the reaction of the learner to a certain stimulus. An example that best
represents the two theories is this story: An experiment took place where
a hungry cat was put in a puzzle box and he needed to depress the rope
inside the cage to get out. At first, the cat made a great deal of varied
attempts to get out in a trial and error fashion such as jumping up and down
and clawing at the bars, but all attempts proved to be in vain. Ultimately by
chance, his paw fell on the loop of the rope and the door opened. The next
day, the cat was put in the box again, this time he took less time in coming
out, and in the subsequent trials, the cat directly struck the latch with his
paw without any random movement. This is how his learning happened.

In this narrative, the trial and error can be seen when the cat took multiple
tries and when he achieved the goal, it took less time for the succeeding
trials as the cat can now avoid errors and immediately go for the option that
results in his goal. On the other side, the conditioning theory is seen as the
cat learns that striking the loop on the multiple trials can immediately reward
 him with the fish, hence, he will instantly do it in the succeeding trials instead
of doing unnecessary movements because he has already associated the
reaction (the door opening ) to a certain stimulus (striking the rope). Hence
we can see the similarities in how the learning we got from the aspect of the
conditioning theory can make a leaner to immediately go for a choice that
will immediately result in success as he has already eliminated the wrong
choices through trial and error. Another similarity between the two is that
the two theories need time for the learner to achieve an outcome. In trial
and error, a learner has to undergo multiple choices, some of which are
failures and will be eliminated, to seek the outcome. While in conditioning
theory, a learner has to experience that same reaction to a certain stimulus
many times so that he will be able to associate the two.

3. What are the differences between the theories?

The conditioning theory is set upon the narrative that the learner has no
goal and thus, what he learns is just based on the response to a stimulus
that he encountered, hence, there's no success and failure in this
theory. On the other hand, in this theory, the learner needs to experience
multiple times the scenario where stimulus A and B are paired up to produce
reaction A, so that he can associate stimulus B with reaction A. However
since this theory is more on the reaction to that certain stimulus and there's
no goal, a learner may not need to undergo several scenarios but just repeat
it to achieve his desired outcome.

In the trial and error theory, the learner has a goal in the first place and
he undergoes random choices to see which one will give him the outcome
he wants. Although both theories have a similarity in that learning takes
place when they encounter a certain scenario, in this theory, responses that
satisfy the subject are learned and selected. While those which are not
satisfying are eliminated. Other than this theory also has a metric of success
or failure, a learner doesn't need to experience the same scenario over and
over as one scenario is already enough for him to determine if that option
can result in a success or not, but here, a learner needs to undergo multiple
scenarios.

4. Which theory do you like most and why?

The theory that I like most between the two would be the trial and error
theory. This is because I feel a lot of connection in this theory. First, the l
theory's main idea is that learners would take a while to learn the desired
goal as they may undergo several trials which will not result in a satisfactory
reaction hence this theory tell us that it's okay if we commit failures along
the way as we will just put that aside and cross that option in the list and
proceed on. This theory tells us that failures are part of success for we
cannot learn anything if we will not experience wrong answers. For me, I
think that most people need to understand that life will always be trials and
errors, there's nothing wrong with committing an error, rather, we should
learn from it and move on, especially in schools where students are prone
to committing mistakes, everyone should understand that nothing is perfect
and the failures of the students are just trials that are the key to his success.
The next reason why I like the theory is that it revolves around the idea of
 practice as the learning theory is centered around the idea that to complete
a complex task, only through practice, where we are exposed to wrong
options then eliminating them onwards, can we achieve success.
Additionally, just like the story that I have mentioned earlier, once a learner
knows what option is right, he can avoid making mistakes the next time he
is faced with the same problem, hence incorporating the principle of
conditional learning. Overall, these are the reasons why I like the theory of
Thorndike better as I have more connections to it and I think that this theory
is something that is and should be happening when it comes to the learning
process.

Reference:
Gautam, S. (2021) Thorndike’s Trial and Error Theory | Learning |
Psychology. Retrieved from:
https://www.psychologydiscussion.net/learning/learning-theory/thorndikes-
trial-and-error-theory-learning-psychology/13469

Harappa Learning Cneter. (2021) . Conditioning Theory of Learning.

Retrieved from: https://harappa.education/harappa-diaries/conditioning-
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