Answer :
Final answer:
Bart writing 'I will not skip class' on the board is an example of operant conditioning, specifically positive punishment aimed at decreasing the likelihood of skipping class. Operant conditioning can also involve positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, and negative punishment, all of which attempt to modify behavior by the consequences that follow the behavior.
Explanation:
Operant Conditioning in Education
The situation described with Bart is an example of operant conditioning, a concept developed by the psychologist B. F. Skinner. This method of learning is based on the idea that behaviors followed by reinforcing stimuli are more likely to be repeated, while those with punishing stimuli are less likely to recur. In Bart's case, writing 'I will not skip class' 50 times serves as a punishment for skipping class, which according to operant conditioning, should decrease the likelihood of this behavior happening again.
Operant conditioning can involve different forms of reinforcement and punishment. Positive reinforcement is the introduction of a stimulus (like getting paid for reading books) that increases the likelihood the behavior will be repeated. Negative reinforcement involves removing an unpleasant stimulus (like noise or discomfort) to encourage behavior. There is also positive punishment, where a stimulus is presented after the behavior that decreases its occurrence, and negative punishment, where a desirable stimulus is taken away as a consequence of the behavior.
Positive reinforcement was seen in the Dallas example with second-grade students being paid to read books. This incentive led to increased reading comprehension, exemplifying the effectiveness of rewarding desired behaviors to strengthen them. Similarly, students learning to speak up in class for participation points demonstrates how selectively reinforcing certain behaviors can shape student conduct in a classroom setting.
On the other hand, negative punishment is shown in the removal of points for speaking about off-topic matters. the concept of reinforcement is not limited to positive outcomes.
