Behaviorism is a systematic approach to understanding human and animal behavior through observation and measurement of external behaviors. It emerged in the early 20th century through the work of psychologists like Ivan Pavlov and John Watson who sought to study behavior objectively without relying on introspection. Behaviorism influenced education through concepts like segmented instruction, operant conditioning using reinforcement and feedback, and behavior modification to change behaviors. Behaviorist teaching methods focus on shaping behaviors through reinforcement, repetition of skills, and assessment of observable behaviors.

1. Behaviourism:
Concept and
contribution
Jammu University
2 Year B.Ed.
Paper 202/3
Sem: II
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2. Behaviorism
Behaviorism is a systematic approach to the
understanding of human and animal behavior.
It assumes that the behavior of a human or
animal is a consequence of that individual's
history, including especially reinforcement and
punishment, together with the individual's
current motivational state and controlling
stimuli.
Behaviorists give importance to inheritance in
determining behavior, and also on environmental
factors.
Behaviorism combines elements of philosophy,
methodology, and psychological theory.

3. emerged in the early twentieth century
early psychologist were Ivan Pavlov, Edward
Thorndike.
Together with John B. Watson and others,
these investigators rejected introspective
methods and sought to understand behavior
by measuring observable behaviors and
events.
Behaviorist philosophies shifted somewhat
during the 1940s and 1950s and again since
the 1980s.

4. In the second half of the 20th century,
behaviorism was largely eclipsed as a result
of the cognitive revolution.
During this time cognitive-behavioral therapy
evolved
In addition, while behaviorism and cognitive
schools of psychological thought may not
agree theoretically, they have complemented
each other in practical therapeutic
applications, such as in clinical behavior
analysis.

5. Major Contributions of Behaviorism in
Education
Segmented Instruction
B.F. Skinner observed that teachers presented
large quantities of material at once, expecting
students to make unreasonably large behavior
changes at one time.
His emphasis on small, segmented bits of
instruction sought to remedy this, and it is still
replicated in online courses today.
Providing information in smaller bits and pieces
that the students can handle is being used at
various levels and various form of teaching

6. Social Efficiency
 Behaviorism, through programmed instruction,
teaching machines, and behavioral objectives sought
to refine the teaching process and lessen the burden of
this training
 Schools are experiencing constant and increasing
pressure to become more socially and financially
efficient, and efficiency of the training, social
efficiency has become a major contribution of
behaviourism to our education system.
 teaching machines, programmed instruction, gaming
etc. still use behaviourist perspectives to deliver
education to students and emphasize behavioral
objectives to measure course outcomes.

7. Operant Conditioning
Behaviorism introduced the idea of
reinforcement as a key tool for educators.
The most obvious form of reinforcement in
education is that of grades or marks.
Reinforcement is a consequence that strengthens
a certain behavior.
Even though behaviorism didn’t create grading
system, it is an important model for both
understanding the reinforcement principles and
for applying operant conditioning in designing
new curricula.

8. Rapid feedback
Skinner believes rapid feedback as an
essential element to learning.
If there is not timely feedback for the student
the material being learned may be learned
incorrectly and thus increase possible errors
in future learning.
Rapid learning helps the student learn items
correctly and in a timely manner.

9. Behavior Modification
Behavior modification is a method of eliciting
better classroom performance from reluctant
students. It has following components:
Specification of the desired outcome (What
must be changed and how it will be
evaluated?)
Development of a positive, nurturing
environment (by removing negative stimuli
from the learning environment)
Identification and use of appropriate
reinforcers (intrinsic and extrinsic rewards).

10. Reinforcement of behavior patterns
develop until the student has established a
pattern of success in engaging in class
discussions.
Reduction in the frequency of rewards--a
gradual decrease the amount of one-on-one
review with the student before class
discussion.
Evaluation and assessment of the
effectiveness of the approach based on
teacher expectations and student results.

11.  What teachers do under this theory
 Give the learner immediate feedback.
 Break down the task into small steps
 Repeat the directions as many times as possible
 Work from the most simple to the most complex
tasks
 Give positive reinforcement
 Skinner believed that positive reinforcement is more
effective in changing behavior then punishment.
 All of these are to be adjusted to be age appropriate

12. What students do under this theory
Respond to reinforcement
Pace themselves in an assignment to work
from the most basic to the more
complicated concepts
Ask questions for more clarity in directions
Ask for feedback

13. Behaviorist teaching methods
rely on “skill and drill” exercises to provide
the consistent repetition necessary for
effective reinforcement of response patterns
question (stimulus) and answer (response)
frameworks in which questions are of
gradually increasing difficulty
guided practice
and regular reviews of material

14. rely heavily on the use of positive
reinforcements such as verbal praise, good
grades, and prizes
assess the degree of learning using methods
that measure observable behavior such as
exam performance
Behaviorist teaching methods have proven
most successful in areas where there is a
“correct” response or easily memorized
material.