Question

Explain the process of learning:

1. Learning by classical conditioning
2. Learning by operant conditioning
3. Learning by observation
4. Learning by assimilation and accommodation

Explain the following concept in 25 to 30 words:

Learning

Answer 1

It is defined as a relatively permanent change in behaviour that occurs due to past experiences or practices.

Several aspects of learning include:

1. Relatively permanent change in behaviour
2. This is due to experience or practice
3. This change in behaviour may be in knowledge; e.g. learning a new formula, etc.
4. Learning is an inferred process.

Process of Learning:

1. Learning by Classical Conditioning: Learning by Classical Conditioning was explained for the first time by Russian physiologist Ivan Pavlov (1928) through his experiment on a dog. He inserted a tube surgically in the dog’s salivary gland so that he could measure the amount of salivation. He then presented the sound of the bell and food one after the other several times and measured how much the dog salivated. After several trials, the dog started salivating at the sound of the bell even when the food was not given. Based on his findings Pavlov gave a theory of learning called Classical Conditioning. In our daily life, we learn many things through classical conditioning. For example, when a small child is given an injection, he starts crying due to pain. A small child slowly understands that whenever he visits the doctor, he is given an injection. When he understands the connection between ‘doctor’ and ‘injection’ he immediately starts crying as soon as he is taken to the doctor.
2. Learning by Operant Conditioning: Learning by Operant Conditioning was explained by an American psychologist Burrhus Frederic Skinner. He performed an experiment in which a rat was put in a special box that contained a lever. If the rat pressed that lever, he was given food. Gradually the rat learnt to press the lever to get food. Here the rat is learning to connect his behaviour of pressing the lever with receiving the food. According to Skinner, certain behaviours may be learnt to gain positive consequences. Similarly, he also demonstrated that certain behaviours may be learnt to avoid negative consequences.
3. Learning by Cognitive Processes: Just when Skinner and Pavlov were talking about connections and consequences of behaviour, Edward Tolman demonstrated that though rats in his experiment were not given any food, they still learnt about the different pathways in the maze. That means rats created 'maps' in the mind just for the sake of it. His experiment demonstrated that learning may take place in the 'mind' using 'mental' processes, what we call cognitive processes now.
4. Learning by assimilation and accommodation: Jean Piaget explained that we learn many things by assimilation and accommodation. Jean Piaget is of the opinion that on the basis of new experiences or new information, we keep refining the existing concepts that we have. For example, when a child forms a concept of a cow, he/she extracts some general rules or characteristics to form a concept of a cow. But when he encounters a buffalo, he/she notes the differences between the cow and buffalo and forms a separate concept of a buffalo. This process of forming and refining our concepts on the basis of similarities and differences is called learning by assimilation and accommodation.
5. Learning by observation: According to Bandura, we learn many things by observing someone's behaviour and later reproducing it. Many of our skills like eating, walking, writing, etc. are learnt by observing others. We observe and imitate not only the movements of the body but also certain ways of thinking, evaluating, judging and decision-making, etc.