Skinner+Box

The Skinner Box



Skinner's first experiments were first set up initally so that rats may press the lever accidentally and recieve a food pellet.The food being dispensed served as the reward for the desired behavior, the rat pushing the lever. The behavior at this point, pushing the lever, can be reinforced by or extinguished. Reinforcement of the rat pressing the bar can be achieved by making the rat press the bar many times in order to receive the food pellets. The behavior can be extinguished by having the lever never dispense food (Slavin 131).



When it the box operant conditioning is tested. The is a three part procedure to operant condition which goes as follows. First, an antecedent procedure occurs(1). In the case of the rat in the box it would be a shock from the electric grid. To avoid this, the rat will learn to perform a particular response(2). Finally, the consequent stimulus is applied (3) which in the case of the skinner box may be food or water. (Ricker 5)

Refresh my memory: Who is this Skinner guy again?

What does this have to do with learning?

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