Behaviorist+Notes

=**Behaviorism focuses only on the objectively observable aspects of learning. **= = = =**Learning is seen as the acquisition of new behavior through conditioning. **=
 * 1) Behavior, not thinking, feeling, or knowing, was the primary focus. Behaviors could be measured through direct observation or the use of assessment instruments.
 * 2) Stimulus - Response mechanisms were the basis of learning.





basic assumptions:


 * learning is manifested by a change in behavior
 * the environment shapes behavior
 * the __principles of contiguity__  (how close in time two events must be for a bond to form) and __reinforcement__  (any means of increasing the likelihood that an event will be repeated) are central to the process

[|http://youtu.be/M2Ns3WViaXw__]  : Watson
 * Beginnings:**
 * **John Broadus Watson (1878-1958)** is considered the founder of Behaviorism. He observed the external behavior of people and their reactions to situations as opposed to looking at their internal, mental states (introspection). He saw this as the only objective analysis possible. He studied the adjustment of beings to their environment. He was looking for the stimuli that caused a person's response. His work was therefore highly comparative. It was heavily based on Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning.

> > [|__http://youtu.be/D-RS80DVvrg__]  : Skinner
 * **B.F.Skinner (Burrhus Frederic) (1904-1990)** further changed Behaviorism. He believed that all behavior is determined and influenced by the environment, __and__ that our behavior determines our environment. (operant conditioning). He opposed the use of coercion, punishment and fear, while supporting the use of reinforcement. (At this time: the totalitarian states, his book //Walden Two//, and //Brave New World//). Skinner's greatest contribution to Behaviorism was probably his description of the effects of reinforcement on responses.

@http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGazyH6fQQ4 Pigeon Ping Pong

__http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/39811__
 * Timeline:**

Behaviorism and Technology
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Various technologies, such as spreadsheets, word processing software, and interactive web-based practice programs can be used to promote more desirable academic behaviors from students.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Using technology to give students individualized and group data about their performance is an example of a stimulus (as described by B.F Skinner) that can produce the desired response of a student who is more dedicated during class and more willing to study outside of class.
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Electronic drill and practice resources are often viewed as positive, outside the classroom, additions to a student’s nightly homework as they can practice skills and techniques necessary to achieve class objectives.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Shaping and Chaining <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> Shaping is a way of adding new (previously non-existent in this person) behaviors to a person's repertoire. Some approximation of the target behavior is reinforced.
 * The target behavior is clearly identified.
 * The nearest approximations of the behavior are reinforced. (clicker training)

=
Chaining - The new behavior may be a series or chain of related behaviors, where each behavior cues the next behavior. The chain is a series of signals and behaviors. **Chaining** is the procedure for building chains.=====
 * Forward Chaining ( A to Z ) (**Shaping** must always move forward)
 * Backward Chaining ( Z to A )

For Both Procedures
 * Define the target behavior
 * Reinforce successive elements of the chain

There are manipulative aspects of Behaviorism. Predicting and controlling behavior through Shaping, by controlling rewards and punishments, it was feared, could be used in a negative manner to control a society.