Final answer:
The problem with the theory that observational learning is just a form of operant conditioning is that children can imitate behavior without requiring reinforcement, which points to learning processes beyond just behavior-consequence associations.
Step-by-step explanation:
One problem with the theory that observational learning is simply a special case of operant conditioning is the finding that young children will imitate a model without the need for direct reinforcement. Observational learning involves watching others and imitating their actions, which diverges from operant conditioning where behavior is more directly influenced by its consequences.
Albert Bandura's social learning theory highlights the role of internal mental states in learning, suggesting that learning can take place in the absence of external reinforcement, which is not accounted for in the pure behaviorist perspective.
In the context of observational learning, simply being rewarded for an action (option a) or doing the opposite of what the model does when reinforced (option b) does not encapsulate the complexity of learning through observation. The correct answer to the student’s question is that young children will imitate a model without needing reinforcement to do so, highlighting an issue in the argument that observational learning is just a type of operant conditioning.