Edward Thorndike, B.F Sinner

Edward Thorndike:

 1. Explain Thorndike's puzzle-box experiment.

- Thorndike believed that learning occurred by trial and error. The puzzle-box experiment required cats to step on a switch inside a cage so the door of the cage would open and the cat could go free.  The first time, the cats did not know how to get out so they tried everything, but when they stepped by accident on the switch the door opened. On succeeding trials, they started operating the switch faster.

2. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Effect".

-The law of effect suggested that responses followed closely by satisfaction will become attached to the situation and then the action is most likely to reoccur when the situation is repeated. On the other hand, if the situation is followed by pain, the behavior of the response I less likely to occur.

3. Explain Thorndike's "Law of Exercise".

- The law of exercise stated that behavior is established more through connections of a stimulus and response.

B.F. Skinner:

 1. Explain Skinner's concept of Operant Conditioning

-States that behavior is based on past behaviors and its past consequences.

2. What does reinforcement always do?

-Reinforcement always makes the behavior increase.

 3. What does a punishment always do?

-Punishment always makes the behavior decrease.

 4. Explain the difference between "positive" and "negative" as they are used in operant conditioning.

- Positive is used in operant conditioning when something is given in reward, and negative is when something is taken away.

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/689639/Thorndikes-law-of-exercise

http://psychology.about.com/od/lindex/g/lawofeffect.htm

http://www.psywww.com/intropsych/ch08_animals/thorndikes_puzzle_box.html