Operant Conditioning: From Learning Machines to Computers to New Tricks

One basic idea of behaviorism is operant conditioning. Operant conditioning, most closely associated with B. F. Skinner, differs from classical conditioning, which is most closely associated with Ivan Pavlov, in that in operant conditioning, the subject acts voluntarily, while in classical conditioning, the subject is passive (Cherry, 2018). In operant conditioning, the researcher or teacher provides positive reinforcement (rewards) to encourage desirable behavior or negative reinforcement (punishment) to discourage undesirable behavior.

One example of an educational example described in a course video is a teaching machine. The pupil reads the new material on a screen, which has a few letters or symbols missing, and moves levers to put the correct letters or symbols in place. The pupil then turns a crank and the levers return to their original positions. If the answers are correct, then new material appears. If the answers are incorrect, then the old material stays on the screen for the pupil to try again. Although some people criticize teaching machines for being too mechanical and impersonal, they have the advantages that pupils are able to work at their own, individual paces, they can have multiple chances to get the right answers, and they are physically involved in the learning.

It occurs to me that learning machines are crude, early precursors of the online homework systems schools frequently use now. I imagine current graphics are much more impressive. I teach at a community college, but I believe the systems can be used at other levels as well. The system I currently use has built-in tutoring features at the practicing level as well as available short video and text presentations of the material, and then a mastery level without tutoring features. In the practicing and mastery levels, each time a learner answers correctly, the software rewards the learner with a green stripe across the bottom of the screen and an encouraging message, such as “Good Job” or “Way to Go.” The tasks required for the positive reinforcement are much more complex than pressing a bar to receive a pellet of food, but this is clearly an example of operant conditioning.

Here is a Youtube video showing the use of operant conditioning to teach a dog a new trick:

Sources:

Anonymous. (n.d.). Operant conditioning psychology experiment [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AX8sRheKr00

Cherry, K. (2018, October 12). Classical vs. operant conditioning: two important concepts central to behavioral psychology. Verywell Mind. Retrieved from https://www.verywellmind.com/classical-vs-operant-conditioning-2794861