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ERIC Number: EJ761473
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2003
Pages: 3
Abstractor: Author
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0098-6283
EISSN: N/A
A Problem-Solving Approach to Teaching Operant Conditioning
Shields, Carolyn; Gredler, Margaret
Teaching of Psychology, v30 n2 p114-116 2003
Psychology students frequently have misconceptions of basic concepts in operant conditioning. Prior classroom observations revealed that most students defined positive reinforcement as reward and equated negative reinforcement and punishment. Students also labeled positive reinforcement as rewarding good behavior and negative reinforcement as punishing bad behavior. We developed 14 problem-solving situations that involve positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and punishment. Students analyzed these situations in regular classroom sessions and as homework. In these exercises, students specified the discriminative stimuli, the responses, and the nature of the consequences. Correlated t tests on the pre- and posttest means indicated a significant increase in students' understanding of these concepts.
Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 10 Industrial Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262. Tel: 800-926-6579; Tel: 201-258-2200; Fax: 201-236-0072; e-mail: journals@erlbaum.com; Web site: http://www.LEAonline.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A