Question

What is operant conditioning? Describe an experiment that uses operant conditioning.

Answer 1

Operant conditioning is a form of learning where behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it. An experiment that demonstrates operant conditioning is B.F. Skinner's Skinner box, where rats learned to associate pushing a lever with receiving food.

Step-by-step explanation:

Operant conditioning is a form of learning where behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow it. B.F. Skinner is known for his work on operant conditioning, which involves using reinforcement or punishment to strengthen or weaken a behavior.

An example of an experiment that uses operant conditioning is B.F. Skinner's Skinner box. In this experiment, rats were placed in a box with a lever. When the rats accidentally pressed the lever, they received food as a reward. Over time, the rats learned to associate pushing the lever with getting food and would perform the behavior more frequently.

Different from classical conditioning, operant conditioning focuses on the consequences of behavior rather than associating one stimulus with another. In classical conditioning, a reflex is triggered by a stimulus, while in operant conditioning, behaviors are shaped through reinforcement or punishment.

Answer 2

Operant conditioning, also called instrumental conditioning, is a method for modifying behavior (an operant) which utilizes contingencies between a discriminative stimulus, an operant response, and a reinforcer to change the probability of a response occurring again in that situation.