Law of Effect (Thorndike 1898)

aim

to see the influence that reinforcement has on the behaviour of cats trying to escape from a puzzle box to get food

method

• IV =

• DV = time taken for cat to exit

1. hungry cats in wooden box w/ mini windows. auto doors opened by pressing button inside

2. fish outside. record how long cat took to press/exit

3. repeated w/ many cats/boxes

key findings

• led to theories/laws of learning

• introduced reinforcement

• 1st to apply principles of learning

limitations

1. oversimplifies learning process (only focuses on stim-response associations)

2. downplays significance of cog processes in learning (more complex)

SI

• random

• experimental research design

• quant (recorded, subjective)

• RRR