Behaviorism

Behaviorism
Prof Dr Lim Chap Sam PPIP USM

Founded by John R. Watson Dominant theory of psychology 1920-50 Reflex or classical conditioning

Ivan Pavlov (1904 Nobel prize winner)

Experiment: dog- tuning fork salivation Silk-silk-silk cow -- milk

Conditioning with infant Classical conditioning in classroom

Happy experience in first day of school

Behaviorism

Behaviorism:
cont

Implications to mathematics learning

Drills and practice

Thorndike connectionism/association theory

Connections were established between particular stimuli & voluntary behaviors Experiments p on animals trial & error to escape p
(p.24)

- giving a lot of exercise and homework

Thorndikes laws of learning

Law of effect

Reward strengthen, punishment weaken Practice makes perfect Condition that govern the state

Learning equate to training N consideration No id ti of f Who Wh (l (learner) ) & why h (goal/aim) Memorizing without understanding rote learning

Law of exercise

Law of readiness

E.g 3x4 = 12 etc Right or wrong answers Reward for good behaviors eg. star, sweets Punishment for wrong behaviors eg. canning

Practice make perfect??

Behaviorism:

Implications to mathematics learning

cont.

Transfer of learning occurs because of previously encountered situation

Problem solving based on prior knowledge/skills

Intelligence is a function of the number of connections learned

Building connections between word and symbol, condition and situation

Gestalt Psychology

Gestalt psychology: basic assumptions

German founder Max Wertheimer Focus on experience of perception Problem solving and thinking

1. molar vs molecular behavior

E.g. chemical process is molar

HNO3 is produced to dissolve silver Do we say that the silver reacts to N, H and O? The effect on the silver cannot be understood as a reaction either to individual elements or the sum

Gestalt psychology: basic assumptions

Gestalt psychology: basic assumptions

2. difference between geographical and behavioral environment

Story of a man who rode across a windswept plain in a snowstorm to arrive safely at an inn. The man dropped dead when told he has rode through a thin ice.

3. organism reacts to a constellation of stimuli

. . . . . . . . .

Behavioral environment a plain Geographical environment thin ice

Gestalt psychology: basic assumptions

Gestalt psychology:
4 primary laws of perceptual organization

4. organization of the sensory environment is a dynamic process rather than a simply a static reaction.

Law of perceptual organization (p. 37)

Proximity Similarity Open direction simplicity

Interaction of lines on a field

a) Symmetrical & plane b) 2-D & 3D forces are more balanced c) Plane figure is irregular and difficult to see

Applications to learning

Problem solving

Guided discovery Investigation by insight

Find the difficulty/lack E.g water jar problem

Functional fixedness

Problem solving : Investigation by insight

Find the difficulty/lack

Comprehend ed conflict Ape cannot reach the food. Difficulty Solution with functional value Make use of something that extends the animals reach Scatter out Xrays, send weak rays from various angles

Functional fixedness E.g water jar problem

Problem 1. Task: measure 20 units of water Given: Jug A= 29 units; B= 3 units Solution Full jar A and pour off into B 3 times 29-(3x3) = 30 A 3B A-3B Full jar B, pour into A, then fill C twice from A 127-21-2x3=100 B-A-2C

Problem

Ape wants the food outside the cage Man needs Xray treatment for tumor inside body

Apes arm is too short.

2.

Task: measure 100 units of water Given: Jug A= 21 units; B= 127 C=3

X-ray cannot cure man bec surrounding tissue will be damaged

Bundle of Xrays is too concentrated /too thick

Task: measure 99 units of water Given: Jug A= 14 units; B= 163 C=25

Functional fixedness E.g water jar problem

Problem 4. Task: measure 5 units of water Given: Jug A= 18 units; B= 43 ; C=10 Task: measure 21 units of water Given: Jug A= 9 units; B= 42 C=6 Task: measure 20 units of water Given: Jug A= 23 units; B= 49 C=3 Solution

Functional fixedness E.g water jar problem

Problem 7. Task: measure 18 units of water Given: Jug A= 15 units; B= 39 ; C=3 Task: measure 25 units of water Given: Jug A= 28 units; B= 76 C=3 Task: measure 22 units of water Given: Jug A= 18 units; B= 48 C=4 Solution

5.

8.

9.

10. Task: measure 6 units of water Given: Jug A= 14 units; B= 36 C=8

Differences between Behaviorism & Gestalt psychology (p. 48)

Behaviorism
1.

Skinner : Operant conditioning

Gestalt
1. Individual react to meaningful wholes, learning is organizing & reorganizing 2. Problem solvingreorganization 3. Constellation of stimulusorganization-reaction

2. 3.

Learning is formation of association Trial and error Stimulus response-reward

Learning is behavioral change Changes occur because of response to ( ) in the environment events(stimuli) When a particular S-R pattern is reinforced (eg rewarded), the individual is conditioned to respond

Give me a pencil good (praise, approval) Baby cry (attention)

Skinner : Operant conditioning cont

Skinner : Operant conditioning cont

Reinforcement key element in Skinners S-R theory (p.74-76) Primary/secondary reinforcer

Positive reinforcer

Situations that resulted in new stimulus Counting correctly given a sweets Strengthen escape behavior e.g buzzer in car as alarm -switch off(behavior) Individual trying to escape from aversive situation Different from negative reinforcer Individual is placed in the aversive situation Punishment only temporarily suppress the behavior

Sti l th Stimulus that t can i increase response without ith t training Food, drink, sleep, shelter, sexual contact Stimulus that found in many situations Attention, approval, affection

N Negative ti reinforcer/escape i f / conditioning diti i

Generalized reinforcer

Punishment aversive stimulus

Positive/negative reinforcer

Applications to education

Development of programmed instruction Teaching machine Arrange the difficulty of questions so that the response is always l correct, and d thus h positive i i reinforcement i f Good performance paired with praise, attention, approval, good grades & prize Shaping good behavior- giving intermittent reinforcement Motivation results of long history of reinforcement eg mathematician & gamblers