Approaches to learning Behaviorist approach

1. BEHAVIORIST APPROACH TO
LEARNING
D r . I s h r a t N a a z
A s s t . P r o f e s s o r
S O E , G a l g o t i a s U n i v e r s i t y
Approaches to Learning
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

2. Behaviorist Approach to Learning
 Treats humans as a blank slate at birth
 Watson started the approach after rejecting the
intro-spectionist approach
 He modified the approach to provide more realistic
explanations of how learning can occur
 Confined to observable & measurable behavior
 In this approach, Learning is defined by the
outward expression of new behaviors & context
that is independent.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

3. Behaviorist Approach to Learning
 Learning is based on the notion that learners
respond to stimuli in their environment.
 Role of the learning facilitator is only to provide
relevant & useful stimuli to make learner respond to
& gain the required knowledge or experience.
 Believes that appropriate behavior can be taught
through repetition of tasks combined with feedback
from the facilitator.
 Positive feedback helps in encouraging & reinforces
success whereas negative feedback discourages the
repetition of a mistake or undesirable behavior.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

4. In the words of Watson,
 “Give me a dozen healthy infants, well –
informed, & my own specified world to bring
them up in & I’ll guarantee to take any one at
random & train him to become any type of
specialist, I might select – doctor, lawyer,
artist, merchant chief and yes, even beggar
man and thief, regardless of his talent,
penchants, tendencies, vocations, and race of
his ancestors.”
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

5. Assumptions of Behaviorist Approach
 The behaviorist approach assumes that everything
about human behavior is learnt through experience
 Classical or Operant Conditioning are the
modes of learning
 Classical learning involves learning with association
 Operant conditioning involves learning based on the
consequences of actions = rewards and punishment
(consequences)
 Behavior is a result of stimulus-response.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

6. Advantages
 Behavioristic approach focuses on observable &
measurable behavior
 Research methods used are scientific, easy to
replicate and test
 Helps in identifying behaviorism as a scientific
discipline.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

7. Disadvantages
 Fails to explain why people are sometimes frightened
of things they have no experience of.
 This approach doesn’t take innate factors into
account.
 There is no role for free will in this approach
 This approach doesn’t take into account the cognitive
abilities.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

8. Criticism
 Doesn’t account for processes taking place in the
mind that cannot be observed
 It advocates for passive student learning in a
teacher-centric environment
 This approach proposes that one size fits all (no
individual differences)
 As per this theory knowledge itself is given &
absolute
 There is programmed instruction & teacher proofing
in this approach.
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Approaches to Learning (Dr. Ishrat Naaz)

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