The psychologist is working with a 9-year-old boy named Max who has learning difficulties and continually interrupts their sessions by getting out of his seat. The psychologist wants to teach Max to stay seated for their half-hour sessions using operant conditioning. This could involve rewarding Max with stickers for remaining seated or scolding him when he gets up, both aimed at changing his behavior. The summary explains how operant conditioning works to encourage the desired behavior through positive reinforcement or discourage the unwanted behavior through punishment.

1. Lesson 10: Comparing
Operant and Classical
Conditioning

2. From last lesson……………..
Max is a nine-year-old boy who has learning difficulties. A child
psychologist is working with Max. Max continually interrupts their
session together by getting out of his seat. The psychologist wants
to teach Max to stay in his seat for their half-hour session.
a. Give an example of how the psychologist could change Max’s
behaviour using operant conditioning. (1 mark)
b. Using the terms of operant conditioning, explain how your
method will help Max to learn to stay in his seat. (2 marks)

3. The Answer is……………
a.
• Max could be rewarded with a sticker for every five minutes he
remained in his seat (positive reinforcement)
• Max could be scolded when he gets out of his seat (punishment).
b.
• the psychologist gives Max a sticker for every session he does not get
out of his seat. The sticker acts a positive reinforcer to encourage the
behaviour of staying in his seat
• the psychologist scolded Max when he tried to leave his seat. This
acted as punishment, making it less likely that Max would repeat the
behaviour.
Many students continue to confuse negative reinforcement (which
strengthens a response) with punishment (which weakens a
response).

4. This lesson………
• Compare and contrast of classical and operant conditioning
in terms of the processes of acquisition, extinction, stimulus
generalisation, stimulus discrimination, spontaneous
recovery, role of learner, timing of stimulus and response,
and nature of response (reflexive/voluntary)

5. Classical Vs Operant
Conditioning

6. Activities
Create a presentation of your choice (poster/podcast/drawing/prezi)
that compares classical and operant conditioning in terms of:
the processes of acquisition
Extinction
stimulus generalisation
stimulus discrimination
spontaneous recovery
role of learnertiming of stimulus and response
nature of response (reflexive/voluntary)