Thorndike's theory of connectionism or trial and error learning posits that learning occurs through a process of trial and error. In his famous puzzle box experiments, Thorndike observed that cats placed in a box would at first make random movements to escape but gradually learned to pull a string to open the door and get food. Over successive trials, the time taken to learn the correct response decreased as incorrect responses were eliminated. Thorndike concluded that learning involves forming direct connections between stimuli and responses through a gradual process of selecting satisfying responses that meet a goal and eliminating annoying responses that do not.

1. TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING

2.  Edward Lee Thorndike, an American psychologist (1874-
1949) was the chief exponent of the theory of connectionism
or trial and error.
 Thorndike was the first to study the subject of learning
systematically using standardized procedure and apparatus.
INTRODUCTION
 According to him learning takes place by trial and error. In learning the
learner selects a correct response out of a large number of possible ones
and connects it with the appropriate stimulus. Learning by this method is
called trial and error learning theory.

3. Thorndike's Experiment on cat in the puzzle is widely known and often quoted in
psychology of learning. The experimental set up was very simple. A hungry cat was
confined in a puzzle box and outside the box a dish of food was kept. The cat, in the box
had to pull a string to come out of the box. The cat in the box made several random
movements of jumping, dashing and running to get out of the box. The cat at last
succeeded in pulling the string. The door of the puzzle box opened, the cat came out and
ate the food.
THE PUZZLE BOX
EXPERIMENT

4. He promptly put the cat to next trial. The cat again gave a lot of frantic behavior but it
soon succeeded in pulling the string. It repeated for several time, Thorndike noticed as
the repetition increases the error also reduced i.e., Thorndike's cat showed slow,
gradual and continuous improvement in performance over successive trials. He
concluded that learning of cat in the puzzle box can be explained in term of formation
of direct connectionism between stimulus and response.

5. 1. Learning by trial and error is gradual process.
2. For learning to occur, the learner must be definitely motivated.
3. The learner makes random and variable response.
4. Some responses do not lead to the goal (annoying response)
5. Some responses lead to the goal. (Satisfying responses)
6. With the increase in number of trials the annoying responses will tend to
be eliminated and the satisfying responses will be strengthened and repeated.
7. The time taken to perform the task (to repeat the satisfying response)
decreases with successive trials.
FEATURES OF TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING

6. FACTORS INVOLVED IN TRIAL AND ERROR LEARNING
1.Motive or drive- Drive is a tension state resulting from needs. Where there is drive or
motive there is learning. In the present experiment drive was hunger.
2.Stimulus or goal -It is the casual factor for activity. In this experiment, food is the
stimulus. To get the food by getting out of the box is the goal.
3.Responses -The cat makes a number of varied types of responses like scratching,
pulling etc. The responses which lead to the goal known as satisfying responses. The
responses which do not lead to the goal is known as annoying responses.
4.Block -The cat was confined in the box with a closed door.
5.Chance success- As a result of random movements, the cat, by chance, succeeded in
opening the door.
6.Selection of proper movement-Gradually the cat selected the proper way of
pulling the string out of its random movements.
7.Fixation -At last, the cat learned the proper way of opening the door by eliminating all
the incorrect responses and fixing only right response. Now the cat was able to open the
door without any error.

7. LAWS OF LEARNING
Law of exercise
1. Law of use- With practice, the connection is strengthened.
2. Law of disuse- When the practice is discontinued, connection is weakened.
Law of readiness- The law states that “when any conduction unit is ready to
conduct, for it to conduct is satisfying. When any conduction is not ready to
conduct, for it to conduct is annoying. When any conduction unit is ready to
conduct, for it not to conduct is also annoying.
Law of effect- The law states that “ any behavior that is followed by pleasant
consequences is likely to be repeated and any behavior followed by unpleasant
consequences is likely to be stopped”.

8. CONCLUSION
 We can conclude from the above points, Thorndike’s theory and
laws of learning have contributed a lot to educational theory and
practice.
 It has made learning purposeful and goal-directed and has brought
motivation to the forefront.
 It has also given impetus to the work of practice, drill and
repetition and realized the psychological importance of rewards
and praise in the process of teaching and learning.