Behaviorism Case Study

1. Does Mr. Kessinger's class represent a community of learners as defined in Constructivist theory? Why or why not?

Mr. Kessinger's class does not represent a community of learners. His students are not encouraged to work together. They are too worried about getting answers right and are scared out of their minds. It is every person for them self in that class.

2. Does Mr. Kessinger utilize presentation punishment or removal punishment with Robin? Justify your response using definitions and evidence from the case.

Mr. K uses presentation punishment. By yelling at her he is presenting an aversive stimulus. He also uses removal punishment by ripping up her concept map (desirable stimuli).

3. Explain Robin's reaction in Ms. Yamashita's class from the perspective of classical conditioning. Which stimuli are paired and how does that condition her response?

Because Mr. K yelled at Robin for using notes to answer the question and tore up her concept map, she thinks she will get in trouble in her other class as well. This mad her really upset and she cried. When Ms. Y takes her concept map she thinks she is going to get in yelled at again and so she runs out of the class crying. The paired stimuli is her teachers seeing her concept map and that conditions her to cry.

4. How might Ms. Yamashita encourage Robin to create concept maps in the future? Include behavioral concepts such as shaping, reinforcement, etc., in your response.

One way that Ms. Y could encourage Robin to create concept maps in the future would be by reinforcement. Praise and recognition would be a good type of reinforcement in this case. Another reinforcer could be a token economy. If the teacher could explain to Robin that she proud of her and that she loves her concept one on one Robin will understand things much better.