Jimma University College Of Behavioral Science And Psychology 12-7-2016

1. B.F. SKINNER
THEORY OF
OPERATIONAL
Presentation
by
:ALAZAR.K
August ,

2. B.F SKINNER -
BIOGRAPHY
Born at Susquehanna, Pennsylvania March
20, 1904
He studied at Hamilton College (in Clinton,
New York)
Received a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in 1926 in
English Literature.
Skinner trying to become a writer, when he
was

3. CONT’……
For long times only that he was
researching in the wrong manner: and at
last Skinner said “I had apparently
failed as a writer, but was it not possible
that literature had failed me as a
method?”
Then after that skinner decided to be a
psychologist

4. CONT’……….
Skinner at 27 years old, received his
Ph.D. degree from Harvard University
Skinner got married in 1936 at
age 32 to Yvonne Blue (1911-
1997), seven years younger than
him

5. SKINNER AT 27 WHEN HE
RECEIVED PHD. DEGREE

6. BASIC TERMS IN SKINNERS THEORY
Operant conditioning: learning in which behavior
is strengthened if followed by reinforcement and
weakened if followed by punishment
Shaping :- A method of teaching a new
behavior by reinforcing closer and closer
approximations to the desired behavior

7. CONT’………..
Learning:- refers to any relatively permanent change in behavior
brought about through experience. That is through interaction with the
environment.
Primary reinforcers: innately reinforcing—satisfy
biological needs. Like food, air, water, sex….
Secondary reinforcers: learned and become
reinforcing when associated with a primary reinforce. Like money ,
grade in school, praise,

8. SKINNER FIRST ……
Elaborated Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Operant Behavior Is Voluntary & Directed by
Consequences
Thorndike’s Law of Effect
Rewarded behavior is likely to recur.
Behavior followed by a negative consequence is
less likely to recur.

9. ASSUMPTION OF SKINNER
Behaviour is interactive. It is related to the
environment and interacts with other’s
behaviour
Behavior is the product of learning
 We are both product and producer of the
Environment
Environmental determinism

10. ASSUMPTIONS……
Responses are acquired and strengthened by
their consequences.
We acquire responses or skills, such as raising
our hand in class, that lead to reinforcement.
Reinforcers are changes in the environment
(stimuli) that increase the frequency of the
preceding behavior.
Behavior that lead to rewarding consequences
are strengthened—that is, they are
more likely to occur again.

11. EXAMPLES:-
Example-1. Working industriously
can bring about a raise in salary or
bonus.
Example-2. Studying hard in
college results in good academic

12. SKINNER BOX –CAT
EXPERIMENT

13. WHAT COMES TO UR MIND

14. POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT
Strengthen response
by providing desirable
rewards
Ex: Token economy, praise

15. NEGATIVE
REINFORCEMENT:
Strengthen response
by removing aversive
stimuli
 Ex: Prisoners-early release for good behavior

16. PUNISHMENT:
Use aversive stimulus
following response to
decrease likelihood of
behavior in the future

18. SCHEDULE OF
REINFORCEMENT
1. Fixed-interval schedules:
Reinforce the first response after a fixed-time
interval has elapsed .
E.g. Monthly salary
E.g. 2 Giving chocolate for ur child when he has
finished his maths homework

19. 2. FIXED-RATIO SCHEDULES:
 Reinforcement provided every time
when a behaviors takes place
E.g. A Carpenter get his paid from his
customer when he has finished the
ordered cabinet.

20. 3.VARIABLE-INTERVAL SCHEDULES:
Reinforcement after an average amount of
time but the interval varies in random order
E.g If u are Facebook user and as u receive a notification
message abt ur photo you will probably check more often now
and now .
Receiving a message serves u as reinforcer
The reasons for checking ur notification is based up
on the amount of likes and comment you get on fb

21. 4. VARIABLE-RATIO SCHEDULES:
Reinforcement after an average number
of correct behavior
E.g. Gambling players plays by assuming
that they will win a money with (
BINGO) machine.

22. CONTRIBUTIONS OF SKINNER THEORY IN
EDUCATION
Emphasis on measuringobservable
Behaviors.
Role of reinforcement in shaping
behavior
Practical usage of theory
Considerable research support

23. CONT’….
A great part of the movementcalled
behaviour therapy
Behaviour analysis applied toeducation
Behavioural analysis in organizations

24. CONTRIBUTION OF OPERANT CONDITIONING THEORY FOR
CLASSROOM INSTRUCTION
Recognize and reinforce positive
behaviors and genuine task
accomplishments.
Use various types of reinforcement
such as teacher approval (praise,
smiles, attention,
Reinforce good behaviors and punish
bad ones consistently.

25. CONT’
Use positive punishment as the last option.
Use negative punishment, such as detention class,
instead.
Punish students’ behavior, not their personal
qualities.
Tell the students which behavior is being
punished
Use schedule of reinforcement, such as
surprise rewards, to encourage persistence.

26. SKINNER ASSUMPTION ABOUT ABNORMALITY
(COUNSELLING DESPLINE)
Abnormal behavior result of faulty
learning,
Sensation, Imagery, Cognition,
Personality set/changed by
reinforcement
Humans are Blank slate by nature - set
by
reinforcement

27. CONT’….
.
Operant theory incorporating
highly to treat emotional and
behavioural disorder.
Deals with current problems and
factors influencing them
Active behavior change (not
mere talk-therapy)

28. CONT’…..
Teaching clients skills to use in
everyday life (outside of therapy).
Focus is on assessing behavior
directly, identifying the problem, and
evaluating change.
Emphasizes self-management
strategies.

29. MAJOR COUNSELLING TECHNIQUES EMERGES
FROM OPERANT CONDITIONING
Relaxation methods
 Reinforcement
techniques
 Modeling
 Cognitive
restructuring
 Assertion and social

30. COMPARISON OF
BEHAVIOURIST THEORY WITH Z
CURRENT PHILOSOPHY OF
LEARNING THEORIES
Behaviourism Constructivism
Directed Instruction Non-directed Instruction
Objectivist Constructivist
Teacher-centered Learner-centered
Behavioural observations Cognitive operations
Focus on the individual Group work is emphasize
More focussed on one approach More holistic in approach

31. CRITICISMS FOR SKINNER THEORY.
Behavior is more than stimulus-
response (Bandura- mediating thoughts)
Behavior is not totally determined by
externals
Overly simplistic explanation for human
behavior

32. CRITICS …..
Overly determined on environment
Using his therapeutics techniques
unable to explore serious mental
problem or disorder
Neglecting the influence of
unconscious mind as a reason of
behavioural disturbance

33. MANY
THANKS
!!!