Essay about Motivational Strategy Guidelines Based On Self-Efficacy

Operant conditioning refers to the method of learning to occur through rewards and punishment for behavior (Staddon & Cerutti 2002). In the operant condition, an association occurs between the behavior and the consequences of the behavior. Behaviorist B.F Skinner coined operant conditioning, and that is why some refer to it as Skinnerian conditioning. Skinner started studying operant conditioning in the late 1920s when he was a graduate student at Harvard University. As a behaviorist B.F Skinner believes that it was obligatory to look at the internal thoughts and motivation so as to explain behavior (Staddon & Cerutti 2002). As an alternative, he did suggest that we should look only at the external and observable causes of human behavior. The characteristics of operant conditioning are that an organism may emit a particular response instead of just eliciting the response because of the external stimulus. Skinner did use the term operant in referring to any active behavior that operates on the environment so as to generate consequences (Doyle-Portillo & Pastorino 2013).

Operant conditioning is a theory put forward by Thorndike. This theory waits for a desired behaviour to occur and then rewards it. It builds somewhat on the work done by Watson regarding trial and error learning. Perhaps the most prominent or influential behaviourist work is that done by Skinner. Skinner adopted an operant approach to behaviourism and famously conducted experiment using rats in specially designed boxes. Skinner’s ideas revolved around the presence of a reinforcer to cause a desired behaviour to be repeated. This could be in the form of a primary reinforcer (a basic need like food) or a secondary reinforcer (such as money or praise). In the case of his rats, Skinner effectively trained them to pull certain levers to release food. Initially, the release was accidental but after a while, the rats learned to associate the arrival of food with the pressing of a lever. Skinners work revolved heavily around the need for reinforcement, reward, punishment and feedback. The scheduling and delivery of these things was also important to Skinner who suggested the timing of something like a reward was paramount to its success at brining about long term changes in behaviour. Similarly, he suggested giving punishment should occur immediately after the event in question and in a consistent manner. Also, it was skinner who introduced the concept of successive approximations – small

Operant conditioning is described as "[t]he association between a behavior and its consequences" Operant conditioning includes four classes to change behaviors, which include positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, positive punishment, and negative punishment. Out of the ways to change behaviors, positive reinforcement, typically serves to work more efficiently than the other three considering the consequences. Furthermore, B.F Skinner and Thorndike have found that rewarding behaviors with primary reinforcers can be very influential because, for instance, food is essential for survival (Caccioppo, J., & Freberg, L. (2015).

Module 6.3 details the learning concept known as operant conditioning. The “founder” of operant conditioning is the behaviorist, B.F. Skinner, who was dissatisfied with classical conditioning and thought that its method was limiting to known behaviors. Based on the law of effect, a concept that states that “behaviors that are followed by consequences that are satisfying to the organism are more likely to be repeated,” Skinner developed systems to induce operant conditioning and conducted tests on animals using Skinner boxes. In operant conditioning, the subject always receives a consequence following a behavior. These consequences can either be a reinforcement, which cause the subject’s behavior to increase, or a punishment, which causes the

Skinner however, believes most behavior differs from the classical form of conditioning, he believes in what is called operant conditioning. Operant conditioning is different from classical conditioning because it involves actual behavior. Instead of reflex responses, operant conditioning rewards or punishes a person for actually

The results supported Skinners (1938) theory of operant conditioning where behaviour could be modified and the use of reinforcement or punishment can increase or decrease

Extrinsically motivated behaviours are behaviours or tasks that are induced by rewards or punishment, depending on the success or failure of the task (Lin, McKeachie and Kim, 2003). Vallerand (2004) states that when a student is extrinsically motivated they do not engage in activities out of pleasure but rather do so to derive some kind of reward that are external to the activity itself.

Social Learning Theory emphasises the principles of learning through the observation of others, this is where the concept of self efficacy is derived from. Defined by Bandura (1977), self efficacy is ‘the belief in ones capabilities to organise and execute the courses of action required to produce given attainments’. Simply put, self efficacy is how an individual perceives their control over their own ability to complete behaviours and reach goals set. The belief that a behaviour will lead to a particular outcome, known as outcome expectancies is important in determining behaviour, incorporating self efficacy and ones beliefs that they are capable of reaching goals.

Operant conditioning is a common strategy to analyze animal and human behaviors in psychology. Operant conditioning is broadly defined as a type of behavioral learning that utilizes the consequences of behavior. This is commonly shown through the classic experiment conducted by B. F Skinner with a rat in a chamber. This box, often called a Skinner box effect, has two key components: a lever and food pellet distribution slot. Once the rat is isolated in the box, it commonly explores its surroundings. When the rat presses the lever, a food pellet is given, causing the rat to press the lever at a higher rate for the reward. In operant conditioning, reinforcements and punishments are used to determine the causality of a certain tasks performed. Reinforcement is a consequence that strengthens a behavior, much like the rat in the Skinner box. On the contrary, punishment weakens a certain behavior.

is evident when people engage in an activity for its own sake, without some obvious external incentive present. A hobby is a typical example.Intrinsic motivation has been intensely studied by educational psychologists since the 1970s, and numerous studies have found it to be associated with high educational achievement and enjoyment by students.There is currently no "grand unified theory" to explain the origin or elements of intrinsic motivation. Most explanations combine elements of Bernard Weiner's attribution theory, Bandura's work on self-efficacy and other studies relating to locus of control and goal orientation. Thus it is thought that students are more likely to experience intrinsic motivation if they:

What are motivational theories, and how can these theories help to motivate individuals within the workplace. Motivational theories were designed to drive people to be motivated, to meet company goals; and expectation within the organization. One of those theories is the hierarchy of needs, the second is hunters intrinsic/extrinsic theory; both theories would be beneficial in Bobbi Ann’s actions while helping her to become more motivation, self-sufficient; and accountable. While everyone has some form of need from time to time, some people also need some form of motivation; the usage of these motivational theories will help in meeting those expectations. So, what is a need and what is motivation, “a need, in effect gives a person a feeling of deprivation, that something is missing from his or her life, at least at the moment” (Drafke, 2009, pg. 352). Whereas, “motivation means the various drives within, or environmental forces surrounding, individuals that simulate them to behave in a specific manner” (Drafke, 2009, pg. 352). In Bobbi Ann’s case, she needs both her needs fulfilled; and help in getting her more motivated at improving her behaviors towards her work ethics. One of those motivational theories is the hierarchy of needs theory, a theory which looks at every avenue and ranks it upon importance. However, to move onto the next level ones needs to be successfully meet those standards, before applying the next step; and so on until all level of importance is

In the textbook operant conditioning can be defined as “the control of behavior through manipulation of rewards and punishments in the environment, particularly the laboratory environment” (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). B.F. skinner who created the operant conditioning procedure believed that all humans are controlled by the environments that they experience and that by changing the environment it is possible to reinforce a behavior that benefits everyone (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). Skinner also believed that the goal of such a procedure should be to benefit mankind. A major tool in operant conditioning is the use of a reinforcer, which is something that occurs after a response and increases the probability of that same response occurring in the future again (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). There are two different types of reinforcement: positive reinforcement and negative reinforcement. Positive reinforcement refers to the addition of something pleasant to increase a behavior whereas negative reinforcement is the removal of something unpleasant to increase a behavior (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). Skinner developed a tool called the Skinner box which was used to study the effects of reinforcers on behavior. The Skinner box would present the subject (usually a small animal such as a rat) with a reinforcer and see if the reinforcer influenced the frequency of a certain behavior such as pushing a lever that was followed by receiving food as a reinforcer (Cervone & Pervin, 2013). Skinner also

Skinner’s is regarded as the father of Operant conditioning while his work was based on Thorndike’s law of effect (Kaiga, 2012, para. 6). Reinforcement is a term that Skinner introduced to the law of effect in which behavior that is reinforced tends to be repeated while

It is vital for all teachers to determine how to foster the development of each child’s self-efficacy to support increase motivation. There are many activities that can be created in the classroom to help a student have a higher self-efficacy. Regardless of the strategy, each activity helps the student feel that he or she can be academically successful.

First two theories are still based on the classic motivation theories, but show them from a different angle. Second two raise the issue of goal setting – practical use of motivation.