Lesson 11 one trial and trial error learning
- 1. Lesson 11: One Trial Learning and Trial and Error Learning
- 2. From last lesson...... What role does the learner play in each of the different types of conditioning?
- 3. From last lesson...... What role does the learner play in each of the different types of conditioning? In classical conditioning, the learner is passive, whereas in operant conditioning the learner actively chooses to respond in a particula manner to gain reinforcement or avoid punishment
- 4. This lesson........ • Explain and apply one-trial learning with reference to taste aversion as informed by John Garcia and Robert A.Koelling (1966) • Explain and apply trial-and-error learning as informed by Edward Lee Thorndike’s puzzle-box experiment
- 5. Trial and error learning involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved
- 6. Trial and error learning involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved A simple way of learning to cope with the environmental demands
- 7. Trial and error learning involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved A simple way of learning to cope with the environmental demands Required that an individual (or animal) be motivated to explore and respond to the environment
- 8. Trial and error learning involves learning by trying alternative possibilities until the desired outcome is achieved A simple way of learning to cope with the environmental demands Required that an individual (or animal) be motivated to explore and respond to the environment Correct Responses (trials) must be rewarded
- 9. Thorndike’s puzzle box experiment demonstrated trial and error in cats A hungry cat is placed in a box with slatted sides, food is placed outside the box and can be seen Cat must operate a lever to open Cat initially explores box and the door and unsuccessfully tries to escape escape to get the food By accident (during trial and error) the cat presses the lever that opens the door Cat escapes and eats the food (i.e. is rewarded) Escape times become faster as the number of trails increase
- 11. Cat is ‘instrumental’ in learning the correct response and ‘operated’ on the environment to get the desired outcome. Thorndike called this ‘instrumental learning’ The results of this experiment led Thorndike to develop the law of effect. The law of effect essentially states that a behaviour that is accompanied or closely followed by ‘satisfying‘ consequences is more likely to recur, and a behaviour that is followed by ‘annoying‘ consequences or discomfort is less likely to recur.
- 12. One-Trial Learning Have you ever been nauseated after once eating a particular food and never eaten that same type of food again
- 13. One-Trial Learning Have you ever been nauseated after once eating a particular food and never eaten that same type of food again One-trial learning (OTL): a relatively permanent change in behaviour as a result of one experience only.
- 14. One-Trial Learning Have you ever been nauseated after once eating a particular food and never eaten that same type of food again One-trial learning (OTL): a relatively permanent change in behaviour as a result of one experience only. Taste aversion: a conditioned response involving avoidance of food associated with feeling/being ill when eaten previously
- 15. One-trail learning is not Classical Conditioning because: One Trial Learning involves one pairing of CS (tasting/eating food) and UCS (illness), not numerous trials as per CC In One Trial Learning, time lapse between CS and UCS can be up to 12 hours or more, but in CC the CS and UCS occur close together.
- 16. Research by Garcia and Koelling (1996) Garcia and Koelling (1966) showed that rats soon learned to avoid a sweet- tasting liquid when it was followed by an injection that made them ill, but they did not learn to avoid the liquid when they received electric shocks afterwards. Presumably this is connected with learning what foods they could safely eat. The rats did, however, learn to avoid the electric shock when it was paired with light and noise (but injection+light/noise failed). Maybe this is related to learning about natural hazards like lightning or falling objects.