CHILD DEVELOPMENT PEDAGOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Other names for ontogenetic selection are instrumental or operant (B. F. Skinner’s term) conditioning. Closely related to, and often thought to be a component of, operant conditioning is classical or Pavlovian conditioning.

Detailed explanation-2: -Instrumental conditioning (also called operant conditioning) is a procedure in which a reinforcement, such as food, is delivered contingent upon a response, although it may also be contingent upon the time of occurrence of a previous stimulus or reinforcement.

Detailed explanation-3: -Operant conditioning is so named because the subject “operates” on the environment. An early theory of operant conditioning, proposed by Edward Thorndike, used the name instrumental learning because the response is “instrumental” in obtaining the reward.

Detailed explanation-4: -Instrumental • The environment constrains the opportunity for reward. A specific behavior is required for the reward. Operant • A specific response is required for reinforcement. The frequency of responding determines the amount of reinforcement given.