Who was Edward Thorndike and what were his contributions to the study of learning?
Edward Thorndike was an influential psychologist who is often referred to as the founder of modern educational psychology. He was perhaps best-known for his famous puzzle box experiments with cats which led to the development of his law of effect.
Why is Thorndike name important in educational psychology?
“Thorndike’s work is important because it put the study of learning and education on a scientific footing for the first time,” said James Corter, Chair of the Human Development Department. Thorndike proposed that laws of learning established by animal experiments might show us how to better promote human learning.
What are Thorndike’s laws of learning?
Edward Thorndike developed the first three laws of learning: readiness, exercise, and effect. He set also the law of effect which means that any behavior that is followed by pleasant consequences is likely to be repeated, and any behavior followed by unpleasant consequences is likely to be avoided.
What is Thorndike’s theory of learning called?
The learning theory of Thorndike represents the original S-R framework of behavioral psychology: Learning is the result of associations forming between stimuli and responses. Such associations or “habits” become strengthened or weakened by the nature and frequency of the S-R pairings.
What are the implications of Thorndike’s theory to the education of a child?
Implications of the Theory A small child learns some skills through trial and error method only such as sitting, standing, walking, running etc. In teaching also the child rectifies the writing after committing mistakes. In this theory more emphasis has been laid on motivation.
What is the educational implication on drills of Thorndike’s Law of exercise?
The second law of learning is the ‘Law of Exercise’, which means that drill or practice helps in increasing efficiency and durability of learning and according to Throndike’s S-R Bond Theory, the connections are strengthened with trail or practice and the connections are weakened when trial or practice is discontinued.
How can Thorndike’s theory be applied in the classroom?
The teacher can apply it in the classroom situation by introducing the principles of pleasure and pain, reward and punishment. When the student does something wrong and he is punished for it, he will not do the work again because punishment gives him pain.