STUDY AND THEORY
Strengths - Skinner and Operant Conditioning:
- Skinner's Research - Skinner uses experiments to test his theory of operant conditioning. The insistence on objectivity, control over variables and precise measurement means that he is able to infer cause and effect; reinforcement (type of) increases/decreases a specific response in rats. This method has many other advantages such as being replicable - an important aspect of scientific research. Skinner's research is viewed as an excellent example of scientific research.
- Skinner's Research - Skinner's research into operant conditioning has made a valuable contribution to society in providing powerful explanations for the development of so many behaviours (both adaptive and maladaptive behaviours). It has led to the development of treatments, many of them are used today such as token economies for people in institutions.Token economies have produced improvements in self-care and pro-social behaviour, even in chronic, institutionalised schizophrenics. Skinner's research is supported by Paul and Lentz (1977) who found token economies more effective than other hospital management methods. Additionally, the principles of behaviour modification and shaping is often used to teach individuals with learning difficulties to use the toilet, dress and feed themselves and other social skills.
- Skinner's Research - The simplicity of learning via reinforcement and punishment is a particular strength of Skinner's work, as it allows it to be applied to so many areas of society; family life, workplace and education with very little training. Parents and teachers frequently use positive reinforcement for encourage and 'condition' desirable behaviour and punishments (detention/grounding) to extinguish undesirable behaviours.
Limitations - Skinner and Operant Conditioning:
- Skinner's use of animals is a source of criticism. Whilst conditioning can be observed in rats and most species, human behaviour is driven by complex emotions and complex thought processes, and so it is impossible for all these processes to be observed. Generalising and applying the findings of rats to humans is problematic; generalisations between humans and animals must be made with caution. His theory may not be very useful in explaining learning in humans, given that cognitions are ignored.
- Ethical issues area further concern with Skinner's Research. The animals involved were exposed to stressful and harmful conditions. Many would argue that many of his procedures were unnecessary. The adverse conditions that they were exposed to may have affected how they reacted to the experimental situation affecting the validity of the results.