The Behavioral Model Essay Example

The Behavioral Model Paper Current discourse into human development and learning seeks to motivate teachers, health and social care workers to develop their own theories of learning, and to evaluate such theories within the classroom using an evidence-based approach (Bigge, Morris, Shermis, 1998). This paper aims to encourage education facilitators across disciplines to draw on learning theories to enhance their understanding of students/participants, and to foster an experimental attitude toward modifying delivery methods to optimize the learning experience of teenagers. It is clear that the discipline of psychology is essential to further the understanding of developmental, learning and teaching processes. Firstly, a critical review of the two major developmental learning theories will be presented, these being the behavioral model and the social construction model. Secondly, a proposed research design for a substance abuse prevention workshop for teenagers will be presented, with reference to the theories critiqued. Finally, a conclusion shall synthesize the main points of this paper and demonstrate the viability of using a social construction model to approach learning interventions for teenagers. Review of Developmental Learning Theories The Behavioral Model Bigge and Shermis (1998) identify the two major learning theories of relevance to current education as being the behaviorist and the cognitivist schools of thought. The behaviorists focus on observable behavior and reduced the learning experience to a process of stimulus and response. This psychology approach to learning was adopted in the USA during the early 1900s, when science and technology were experiencing a time of accelerated growth. We will write a custom essay sample on The Behavioral Model specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The Behavioral Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The Behavioral Model specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Hence, the concept of studying measurable, objective, human behaviors aligned with current values of a modernized society embracing standardized production methods. For the extreme behaviorist, all human behavior can be understood through the processes of conditioning, these being classical and operant in form. Skinner (1938) pointed out that a positive, negative or neutral consequence following a behavior influenced whether a particular behavior was repeated in the future, or if it was not. So, a person learns new behaviors, or is able to modify existing behaviors, as a function of environmental events that either reward or punish that behavior. In this way, Skinner’s learning theory is a move away from the traditional behaviorist approach of stimulus and response, as he differentiated between types of responses. When a response was elicited by a known stimulus is considered to be associated with the known stimulus. Alternatively, responses that do not require a specific stimulus, which he termed operants, are independent of the stimulus. Skinner emphasized that it was the operant response that could be strengthened or weakened by use of personal, social or environmental rewards or punishments respectively. Skinner’s principles advocated the idea that learning could be ‘programmed,’ which fit with the 1960s initial explorations into computer aided instruction. All that was required was for the student to practice, and to be provided with the ideal reinforcement (i. e. , reward or punishment). Students were perceived to learn through processes of rote memorization and amount of practice. Education has been greatly influenced by Skinner’s principles of reinforcement in terms of being better able to regulate student behaviors and learning achievements (Bigge et al. , 1998). Information is reduced by the teacher into smaller components, and organized by the teacher into a format believed that the student would understand and could systematically build on. The information is presented in a logical and sequential way, as an ‘instruction’ which step-by-step aims to shape the behavior of students to a predetermined outcome. His principles also contributed to the concept behavioral objectives in lesson plans and standardization of exams. Hence, achievement outcomes were evaluated by way of the student providing the correct response (i. e. , answer) to a prompt (i. e. , exam paper question). However, Skinner’s theory ignored the contributions of cognitions, with mental activity being considered a ‘black box’ devoid of meaning in that the activity could not be objectively observed and so reliably measured. Additionally, his behavioral approach did not seek understand why a student learnt in the way that they did, or acted out behaviors that they did. Skinner has been criticized for placing too much emphasis on the prediction and control of behavior (Bigge et al, 1998). Especially given that from his viewpoint that control comes from external sources, and not from within the individual. Skinner’s learning theory also highlights the behaviorist approach to the concept of reality, in that it is considered to be ‘absolute’ and so perceived in the same way by everyone, universally. In this way, Skinner’s theory was paternalistic and so negative in the sense that one person could set themselves up as ‘more knowing’ than another. Social Construction Model Alternatively, the cognitive approaches of challenged the concept of behavioral theory that it was the environment that determined a person’s behavior (Buner, 1983). Cognitive learning theorists advocated that a person actively participates in the acquisition of new knowledge. Additionally, cognitivists highlighted that not all learning is observable, such as with mental representations within the mind of a person, and the processes of memory and thinking, which could be measured by way of interviews or surveys of people, as well as observations of external behaviors. The cognitive approach pointed to the learning development of children, wherein they do not just respond to their environment, but actively engage in making sense of the world and their experiences within it, and using their own guesswork as to how the world is structured and functions (Bigge et al, 1998). Many behaviorists ignored initial cognitive theories because they focused on the subjective and mental processes of individuals, which, at the time, could not be observed or measured by way of controlled experiments. The early cognitive theorists such as Piaget (1952) and Vygotsky (1962) were the forerunners of constructivist theory. Constructivist learning theory maintains that a person actively engages in the learning process. As such, the individual constructs their understanding of the world, and the meanings that they ascribe to their experiences. Further, this construction of reality occurs by way of a person reflecting on their personal experiences within the world. It is assumed that the physical world can never be known directly, rather that each person constructs their own interpretation of it. Hence, there is no absolute reality, and each person’s understanding of the world is relative to their biopsychosocial experiences. It is the social interactions, and environmental engagements, that on a daily basis contribute to how each person constructs their interpretation of reality. Importantly, constructed knowledge need not correspond to an external reality in order for the knowledge to be useful, because knowledge is useful when it ‘fits the needs of the learner (Bigge et al, 1998). Thus, knowledge is subjective, according to the experiences and interpretations of each person. Bruner’s (1983) cognitive-interactionist approach to learning, the student is expected to actively interact with their learning environment, including their social environment. Bruner’s approach here encourages the teacher and learner to be exploratory, experimental, and investigative as well as reflective in their acquirement of knowledge. The learner takes a reflective approach by first identifying the current problem, forms a hypothesis as to the optimal course of action to solve the problem, and then examines the implications of the chosen solution. The learner then tests their hypothesis, and draws conclusions as to whether the solution answers the problem as required. Bruner’s approach endorses the student’s efforts to go beyond the provided information, and to manipulate current knowledge to fit with new tasks and novel situations. The cognitive-interactionist approach encourages the student to develop a critical thinking style that draws on past experiences and stored knowledge to solve problems that may not have been encountered before, or to see old problems in a new and creative way. Integrating Theory Analysis with Substance Abuse Prevention Research Design With reference to the critique of the theories provided a proposed research design for a substance abuse prevention program for young people has been developed. Particularly, drawing on the constructivist approach, it is suggested that participants be viewed as purposeful beings which are capable of making situational choices. This will empower the participants sense of autonomy and independence and foster their self-belief, self-concept and self-confidence to make responsible choices with regards to their well being and quality of life. Using a pre-post survey design with a three-hour preventative workshop as the intervention it is believed that this study would enable participants to have opportunities to actively construct and represent knowledge. In this manner, new knowledge would become more concrete for the participant. This approach would suit teenagers aged 12-16 as interactive activities, such as hands-on practical application of new understandings, as well as incorporation of classroom discussions, encouragement of experiments and open-ended classroom objectives are some of the ways in which they could express their own opinions and growing sense of independence (Kail Cavenaugh, 2004) and would align with their cognitive stage (concrete operational; Piaget, 1952). Unlike younger age groups, teenagers would be better able to conceptualize concepts that would be presented on a survey (e. g. , I understand how peer pressure can influence the decisions I make). Also, they would be able to actively engage with substance abuse prevention material at a higher level due to their cognitive ability to reasons logically, to make inferences, and to create and test hypotheses (Piaget, 1952; Kail Cavneaugh, 2004. Compared to an older age group, young people would be less likely to be motivated by large amounts of text-based materials, peer-reviewed studies, and issues that are not relevant to their lives (e. g. , work stressors and relationships to substance abuse) (Kail Cavenaugh, 2004). A group workshop is highly suited to teens as their identity is constructed by way of the opinions of those they consider to be significant in their lives (Boyd, 2006; Kail Cavenaugh, 2004). In this case it would be their peers, as at this developmental stage young people draw away from their parents as confidents, and turn instead to their cohorts for opinions about some of lifes issues. The distinct advantage of this method of learning is that the participants are not required to just memorizes a set of facts and strategies, as meaning making is seen as understanding the ‘whole picture’, as well as the elements that comprise the picture. Hence, the teen becomes a seeker of meaning. This in turn reflects an important feature of the teenage years, where a search for the meaning of life has usually begun, as they seek to understand themselves, the world, and their place in it (Jessor, Colby, m Shweber, 1996; Kail Cavenaugh, 2004). Further, the student comes to understand that as knowledge is constructed they have the ability to construct their own interpretations of the world, and this parallels the cognitive abilities present at this stage of development. An open-ended learning format encourages the learner to appreciate that there is more than one right answer to a question, and that each possible solution has both strengths and weaknesses that are relative to the problem at hand. The use of a questionnaire pre and post to the workshop will allow for a standardized measurement of learning experiences (Howell, 2000). Within the workshop intervention there will be opportunities for formative feedback of learning in the form of group discussion and reflective practices. Formative feedback will provide a qualitative assessment at more of an individual level, although dominant themes during discussions and reflection will be recorded for thematic analysis to provide evidence-based data (Shank, 2002). However, to draw evidence-based conclusions at the quantitative level it will be necessary to gather numerical data to better understand the effects of the intervention for the group as a whole (Howell, 2000). The systematic method of a pre-post design is suited to teenagers as they are able to accommodate and assimilate cognitive information and to reflect on their past experiences to draw conclusions. It is anticipated that this design can best show conceptual change (if it does occur) among teenagers with regard to a substance abuse prevention program. Conclusion The two dominant developmental learning theories are the behavioral model and the social construction model. Whilst the behavioral model has traditionally been the mainstay of education systems, 21st century understandings of the essential input of socio-cultural factors has been growing in popularity. The social construction model suits teenagers as they are at a developmental stage where they are questioning themselves and the world around them in their search for identity and meaning. They are also able to conceptualize, hypothesize and reason logically, and so are ideally suited to the active engagement, discussion and reflective activities that such a model could provide during intervention. References Bigge, Morris L. and Shermis, Samuel S. Learning Theories for Teachers, 6th ed. (1998) Allyn Bacon. Boyd, D. (2006). Identity production in a networked culture: Why youth Heart MySpace. Presentation for the American Association for the Advancement of Science, 2006, St Loise, USA. Retrieved April 18, 2007, from http://www. danah. org/papers/AAAS2006. html Bruner, J. S. (1983). In Search of Mind. New York: Harper and Row. Jessor, C. , Colby, A. , Shweber, R. A. (1996). Ethnography and Human Development: Context and meaning in social inquiry. Chicago: University Of Chicago Press. Howell, D. C. (2000). Statistical Methods for Psychology, 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Publishing. Kail, R. V. Cavanaugh, J. C. (2004). Life-Span Development. New York: Thomson Wadsworth. Levine, M. (2006). All kinds of minds. Retrieved June 6, 2006, from the All Kinds of Minds website http://www. allkindsofminds. org/index. aspx Piaget, J. P. (1952). The Origins of Intelligence in Children. International Universities Press, New York. Schein, E. (1990). Organizational culture. American Psychologist, 45 (2): 109-119. Skinner, B. F. (1938). The Behavior of Organisms: An experimental analysis. New York: Appleton-Century, 1938. Shank, G. D. (2002). Qualitative Research: A personal skills approach. Columbus: Merrill/Prentice Hall. Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in Society. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.