Operant Learning Application
Operant learning is a method that people use regularly to modify and control behaviors. By learning an association between a behavior and a designated consequence, people begin to either increase or decrease the frequency of that behavior. Further, the concepts of reinforcement and punishment are especially useful tools of modifying behavior through operant learning.
For this assignment, you will first need to provide a basic overview of operant learning, as well as the definitions for positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. USE YOUR OWN WORDS! You will then need to apply each of these concepts to the following scenario:
1. You take over a 1st grade classroom in the middle of the school year. Your new students are used to making up their own rules, talking back, answering questions without raising their hand, arguing and yelling to get their way, and fighting with other students. Describe how you could use positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment to increase their positive behaviors and decrease their negative behaviors. Be sure to include at least one example for each! Include: The behavior, the consequence, and the intended outcome.
2. ALSO, after your implementation of the 4 types of operant learning, then discuss
A. The issues sometimes associated with punishment
B. How you could use Response Prevention, DRL, DR0, DRI to reduce unwanted behaviors and increase good behaviors. (Be sure to explain what each is).
