About the lecture

In this lecture, we think about operant conditioning, focusing in particular on: (i) a more complicated version of that real world scenario from module two, which could not be easily explained by classical conditioning; (ii) the ‘Skinner Box’ as a method of demonstrating operant conditioning in action; (iii) changes in interval or ratio factors regarding the ‘pay out’ within the Skinner box, which can impact how a rat behaves towards the lever; (iv) extinction, which is the process by which an associated behaviour is unlearned through a lack of continued expected outcomes; (v) the process of negative reinforcement, whereby a behaviour is reinforced by it resulting in a removal of negativity; (vi) some practical applications of operant conditioning in education, including gamification and token economies.

About the lecturer

Dr Cathal O’Siochru is a senior lecturer in education studies at Liverpool Hope University and has a background in psychology, research methods and education. Dr O’Siochru’s research interests include the psychology of education, epistemological and pedagogical beliefs, and assessment practices. Some of Dr O’Siochru’s recent publications include 'Action learning: how can it contribute to a collaborative process of pedagogical action research?' (2020) and 'Academic perspectives of metrics: Procedural justice as a key factor in evaluations of fairness' (2019).