B.F. SkinnerBy:

Jeff McCarthy

B.F. Skinner

Preformed a stimulus-response tests with pigeons.◦ Skinner would teach the pigeons how to

move a leg for a certain command, and then reward them. He continued doing this until the birds learned to dance, and perform complex tasks like bowling.

◦ This is the same idea we use to teach our dogs. When we ask them to “sit” we wait until they do and then reward them with a treat so they are encouraged to do it again. This reward system is known as Operant

Conditioning.

Operant Conditioning

Definition

◦ Learning that is controlled and results in

shaping behavior through the

reinforcement of stimulus response

patterns.

When something is done, and done correctly, a

reward is given.

Rewards

There are many type of rewards w can present students with.◦ Grades

◦ Extra Credit

◦ Food

◦ Parties

◦ Less Homework

When students are given rewards for doing well, or behaving well, they will continue to strive to do their best in order to gain the rewards again.

Negative Responses

While we give rewards for positive actions, we must also give negative responses for wrong actions according to Skinner.◦ When it comes to teaching we cannot go

too fair in this field. We can give bad grades, or not give a positive response, but we cannot go any further. Parents on the other hand can give negative

responses such as scolding or punishing children for doing something bad.

Behavior Modification

Skinner also came up

with a very simple, yet

very affective way to

get rid of bad habits.

◦ Remove the reinforces.

While we use reinforces to

try and gain a positive

result, sometimes they can

bring about negative ones

such as, alcoholism, drug

dependencies, and OCD.

Teaching

Most teachers, including me, will use

B.F. Skinners method of Operant

Conditioning, whether they know it or

not.

As teachers we need to make sure

that we are using it correctly

though, or it could lead to bad habits

that will be difficult to erase.

Students

As a student I have used both Operant Conditioning, and Behavioral Reinforcement.

When I see an A at the end of a semester that is my reward. I strive next semester to receive that A again, and if I do not, I am very upset.

I also used to have bad study habits, and procrastinated quite often. I fixed these problems by simply taking away my reward, video games, and noticed I was studying more and doing better in my classes.

Works CitedB.F. Skinner, www.nndb.com/people/297/000022231/, NNDB Tracking the

World, November 11, 2011

How to Overcome a Bad Habit, http://davincidilemma.com/2011/02/how-to-overcome-a-bad-

habit/, The DaVinci Dilemma, November 11, 2011

Operant Condtioning, http://psych201.blogspot.com/, Blogspot, Craig Swanson, November

11, 2011