In this lesson I suggested a different way to practise: get the correct answers from the back of the book, and try to prove why they are correct.
Here's an example reading passage:
Behaviourism is a systematic approach to understanding the behaviour of humans and other animals. During the first half of the twentieth century, John B. Watson devised methodological behaviourism, which rejected introspective methods and sought to understand behaviour by only measuring observable behaviours and events.
It was not until the 1930s that B. F. Skinner suggested that private events—including thoughts and feelings—should be subjected to the same controlling variables as observable behaviour. This approach became the basis for his philosophy called "radical behaviourism”. While Watson and Ivan Pavlov investigated the stimulus-response procedures of classical conditioning, Skinner assessed the controlling nature of consequences and also their potential effect on the antecedents of behaviour; the technique became known as operant conditioning.
Now look at the 'true, false, not given' statements and correct answers below. Can you explain why each answer is correct?
- Watson measured both visible behaviour and hidden emotions. (FALSE)
- Skinner’s approach differed from that of Watson and Pavlov in that he went beyond the strictly observable. (TRUE)
1. False: John B. Watson rejected introspective methods (=hidden emotions) and sought to understand behaviour by only measuring observable behaviours (=visible behaviours) and events.
2. True: Watson and Ivan Pavlov investigated, but Skinner assessed
Posted by: Phuong Nga Tran | October 21, 2019 at 17:40
1.
visible behaviour = “observable behaviours”
both >< “by only”
“by only measuring observable behaviours”
hidden emotions = “introspective methods”
“rejected introspective methods”
2.
Watson and Pavlov, the strictly observable = “Watson and Ivan Pavlov”, “classical conditioning”
“While Watson and Ivan Pavlov investigated the stimulus-response procedures of classical conditioning”
Skinner’s approach = “Skinner”
went beyond = “and also”
the strictly observable = “the controlling nature”
“Skinner assessed the controlling nature of consequences and also their potential effect on the antecedents of behaviour”
Posted by: Loc Vo | October 21, 2019 at 18:51
'private events = beyond the strictly observable'
I think this one 'assessed the controlling nature of consequences = went beyond the strictly observable' also helps you guess the right answer but is not very explicit.
Posted by: shokhrukh | October 21, 2019 at 21:38
1/ FALSE because the question contradicts the statement.
'Watson measured...' is opposite 'Watson devised...'
2/ TRUE because the question has the same meaning to the statement.
'Skinner’s approach differed from that of Watson and Pavlov' = 'While Watson and Ivan Pavlov..., Skinner...'
Posted by: arch1001face | October 22, 2019 at 03:19
1 . Watson ... rejected introspective (inward-looking) methods and sought to understand behaviour by only measuring observable (=visible) behaviours ...
2 . While Watson and Ivan Pavlov investigated ..., Skinner assessed ... and also their potential effect ...
Posted by: Matt | October 22, 2019 at 14:22
Good explanations guys!
Posted by: Simon | October 22, 2019 at 14:35
arch1001face
Your reason for first answer seems incorrect to me.
Please check the last two line of the first paragraph:
Of course, Watson invented methodological behaviourism that reject introspective methods, but he try to understand behaviour by only measuring visible behaviours and event.
So “measured” is not in contrast with the statement.
Best
Posted by: Matt | October 22, 2019 at 14:53
1. ONLY measuring observable behaviours/ visible behavior
Rejected (NOT) introspective methods/ hidden emotions
2. Assessed … potential effect on the ANTECEDENTS of behavior = went beyond the strictly OBSERVABLE
Posted by: Moon | October 22, 2019 at 15:49
1st statement is false because Watson's approach rejected the idea of unmeasurable events such as thoughts
2nd statement is true as Skinner's approach became philosophy later on called radical behaviourism
Posted by: learner | October 22, 2019 at 16:50
1. False : only measuring observable behaviours and events- contradict with emotions. ''False''
2. True : This approach (controlling variables as observable behaviour ) became the basis for his philosophy called "radical behaviourism (= strictly observable ) True
Posted by: Sajan | October 23, 2019 at 11:03
Sir, see why the answers are correct.
observable behaviours and events.
1 Watson measured both visible behaviour and hidden emotions. (FALSE)
Operant Condition Vs Classical condition
2.Skinner’s approach differed from that of Watson and Pavlov in that he went beyond the strictly observable. (TRUE)
Posted by: Pachu | October 24, 2019 at 01:05
1. Watson measured both visible behaviour and hidden emotions. (FALSE)
John B. Watson devised methodological behaviourism, which rejected introspective methods and sought to understand behaviour by only measuring observable behaviours and events.
So Watson did not measure hidden emotions.
2. Skinner’s approach differed from that of Watson and Pavlov in that he went beyond the strictly observable. (TRUE)
While Watson and Ivan Pavlov investigated the stimulus-response procedures of classical conditioning, Skinner assessed the controlling nature of consequences and also their potential effect on the antecedents of behaviour; the technique became known as operant conditioning.
Posted by: Colin | October 24, 2019 at 04:03
Thanks Matt,
I just try to explain by other ways =) I'm not sure yet.
Posted by: arch1001face | October 24, 2019 at 16:21