Skinner Box

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Skinner Box

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Burrhus Frederic Skinner designed a chamber , more popularly known as the operant conditioning chamber or the Skinner box , in to investigate the relationship between behavior , mental states , and conditioning . B . F . Skinner utilized the Skinner Box to study the theory of operant conditioning . Operant conditioning , when applied to learning holds that the learning behavior is reinforced by a motivating stimulus which in turn influences the natural desire for learning . Motivational stimulus is categorized as positive or negative reinforcements . The

presence of positive and negative reinforcements in the environment will determine the type of learning outcomes that shall be generated during the learning process . Learning under operant conditioning follows the concept of behavior modification (Debell , 1992

Positive reinforcements are rewards or merits that come along with desirable behavior . This increases the occurrence of the said behavior On the other hand , bad behavior is rewarded with a punishment Punishments will lead to diminish the occurrence of bad behavior . This theory was proven with Skinner 's experiment conducted utilizing a small chamber or the Skinner box . The Skinner box was designed to investigate the theory of operant conditioning to animals . The box was equipped with levers which animals are able to manipulate . Each lever produces either a reward , such as food or water , while the other lever produces a punishment , such as an electric shock ( The Skinner Box

The theory of operant conditioning has been part of pedagogical approaches employed within the learning environment . Moreover , the concept of the Skinner box has long since endured advances and developments , especially in the field of education and technology . In pedagogy , the concept of operant conditioning based on the Skinner box experiment is applied to the theory of behaviorism . The model of operant conditioning represented by the Skinner box experiment is one of the conceptual bases that build the strong foundation of behaviorism in learning

The theory of behaviorism applies the Skinner box experiment such that the learning environment becomes the operant chamber wherein the learners are reinforced to exhibit desirable learning attitudes and outcomes . Learning is based on the stimulus and the response . Moreover learning does not take place naturally but is dependent on several factors , such as the environment and the motivational aspects of the learning atmosphere that incites voluntary learning to the learners (Burton , Moore Magliaro

As aforementioned , the classroom or the learning environment is parallel to the functions of the Skinner box . Desirable learning behavior is reinforced with rewards in the form of praises and commendations from the teacher , the receipt of high grades , success within the learning environment , etc . On the other hand , undesirable learning behavior is reinforced with punishments such as demerits and low grades , and poor rates of success within the learning environment . The theory of behaviorism may be applied to these scenarios such that teachers should be able to provide reinforcements that are more positive in to eliminate undesirable behavior (Ormrod , 1999

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