Learning

Learning

Process that modifies human behavior through experience or practice. Learning changes human behavior and it can be both negative and positive.

Gardner Murphy (1968)

Modification of behavior to meet environmental requirements

Henry P. Smith (1962)

acquisition a new behavior or strengthening/weaking of a old behavior as a result of experiences

Kimble (1961)

Relatively permanent change in behavioral potentiality due to reinforced practice

Factors influencing learning

• Motivation- internal drive encouraging goal achievement

• Reinforcement- feedback that influences behavior (can be +ve or -ve

• Association- learning via linking stimuli and response consequences (classical conditioning and operant)

• Biological factors- species specific predisposition influencing learning 

types of learning

• Verbal learning

• Motor learning

• concept learning

• problem solving

• serial learning

• paired association learning

theory of Trial and Error (Thorndike)

• stamping in correct responses and stamping out incorrect responses through repeated attempts

• performance improves through increased trials

laws of trial and error learning

1. Law of readiness - learning depends on the learners readiness, motivated learners learn better.

2. Law of effect - behavior that gives a satisfying outcomes is strengthened and those that give unpleasant outcomes are weakened .

3. Law of exercise - 1) Law of use:- connection strengthens with practice, 2) Law of disuse:- connection weakens with no use.

4. Law of primacy - first learned things are retained easily

5. Law of multiple responses - learners try different responses when the initial one is not successful

6. Law of recency - the recently learned things are best remembered

7. Law of response by Analogy - responses are influenced through similarity to prior experiences

In Thorndike’s cat in a puzzle box experiment which are the laws used?

Law of readiness, Law of effect, Law of exercise