IELTS Reading: prove why the answers are correct

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?

1. Watson measured both visible behaviour and hidden emotions. (FALSE)
2. Skinner’s approach differed from that of Watson and Pavlov in that he went beyond the strictly observable. (TRUE)

Comments

[Phuong Nga Tran]

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

[Loc Vo]

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”

[shokhrukh]

'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.

[arch1001face]

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...'

[Matt]

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 ...

[Simon]

Good explanations guys!

[Matt]

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

[Moon]

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

[learner]

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

[Sajan]

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

[Pachu]

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)

[Colin]

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.

[arch1001face]

Thanks Matt,
I just try to explain by other ways =) I'm not sure yet.