Edward Thorndike's behaviorist theory involved a technique called instrumental conditioning. One facet of his work was the "law of effect," the idea that a conditioned response could be strengthened by rewards while inappropriate responses that are punished will weaken. Which of the following strategies could accomplish this goal?
A)Providing positive reinforcement to all students who attempt a task
B)Providing motivations for students to accomplish a task
C)Providing incentives for students to accomplish a task

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

All of the mentioned strategies could accomplish the goal of strengthening a conditioned response and weakening inappropriate responses according to Edward Thorndike's "law of effect". Providing positive reinforcement to all students who attempt a task (A) can strengthen the desired behavior by rewarding the effort, regardless of the outcome. Providing motivations (B) can also strengthen the desired behavior by giving students a reason to perform the task. Lastly, providing incentives (C) can strengthen the desired behavior by offering a reward for successful completion of the task. All these strategies align with the idea of reinforcing appropriate responses and discouraging inappropriate ones.

Edward Thorndike's Behaviorist Theory Involved a Technique Called Instrumental Conditioning