Behaviorism

Behaviorism (B.F. Skinner, operant conditioning, reinforcement...)

“Behaviorism is described as a developmental theory that measures observable behaviors produced by a learner’s response to stimuli.” https://www.msu.edu/~purcelll/behaviorism%20theory.htm

Psychological theories were popular in the early 20th Century. These Psychological theories relied mostly on non-observable variables. John B. Watson is the earliest in History to address "Behaviorism." He believed that instead of non-observable variables the behaviors needed to be observable. B.F. Skinner was also strongly apposed to this type of theory as well. This is when it is believed that "psychology actually became a "science" as an extension of "harder" sciences such as biology, chemistry, and physics. http://medialab.mst.edu/rhall/educational_psychology/2001/vl1b/behavior_new.html

Many studies and views have been presented since Watson and Skinner on Behaviorism. There is Classical and Operant Conditioning. Classical is the law of effect and Operant has two elements; operant or response and consequence.

As we study Behaviorism we can better understand the consequence of our lesson plans and classroom management.

Sources:

http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/naik.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviourism

http://medialab.mst.edu/rhall/educational_psychology/2001/vl1b/behavior_new.html

https://www.msu.edu/~purcelll/behaviorism%20theory.htm