Question 1
Discuss how Skinner's distinguishing of operant from respondent conditioning impacted the study of applied behavior analysis.Question 2
As a behaviorist working in a school of teachers who believe very strongly in developmental theory, how would you convince them that a behavioral approach may be more appropriate for some of their students?Answer 1
Skinner's discrimination between respondent and operant conditioning and effects of the field of Applied Behavior Analysis:| • | movement from examining reflexive behaviors (respondent conditioning) to voluntary |
| • | focus on establishment of functional relations between behaviors and consequences |
| • | Skinner's focus on operant conditioning led to the establishment of early principles of human |
| • | Application of behavior modification principles in real life settings led to the beginning of |
Answer 2
The developmental theory focuses on where a student may function within a developmental sequence, but does not provide any information for changing the behavior or moving the student through the developmental sequence. However, the behavioral theory focuses on using behavioral principles to change a behavior while establishing a functional relation.