Annonated Bibliography (Essay Sample)

Annotated Bibliography
Name
University Affiliation
Outline
1 Classical conditioning
* Describe the background of the classical conditioning theory.
* Deduct the contributions of theorists who contributed to the development of the theory.
* Define the major principles associated within the theory as they relate to the psychology of learning.
* Summarize how this theory explains how permanent change in behavior occurs.
* Give examples of real world applications of the classical conditioning theory.
2 Operant Conditioning
* Define the theory and integral principles.
* Discuss the contributions of major theorists to the development of the theory.
* Discuss the key components of the operant conditioning theory.
* Give examples real life examples of operant conditioning.
3 Neo-behaviorism
* Describe the major principles associated with the theory.
* Discuss the contribution of major theorists towards the development of the neo-behaviorism theory.
* Compare and contrast case studies under the theory.
* Outline the ideas of major neo-behaviorists and show how they oppose the Watson behaviorism.
* Give examples of real world application of neo-behaviorism theory.
Coon, A., Mitterer, J., Talbot, S., and Vanchella, C. M. (2010). An Introduction to psychology: Gateways to mind and behavior. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Operant conditioning, another form of learning by association, is another useful approach in the study of psychology. This tool applies in everyday lives, which one can use to adjust behavior, pets, children, and adults. Through the Skinner box, we are able to achieve animal behavior modification during the operant conditioning process. For example, one could teach his dog to "shake" whenever speaking a command. The individual can condition the animal by issuing a positive reinforcer in the form of food whenever the dog responds positively to his command.
Operant conditioning requires than one during the experimental process associate response obtained with its result. As from the case of training a dog to "shake”, principle of reinforcement ensures that the consequence is repeated. According to the Edward Thordike, this is the "law of effects" since a certain response associates with a given results.
Henton, W., and Iversen, I. (1978). Classical conditioning and operant conditioning Theories. New York, Heidelberg, Berlin. Springer.
Animals, as well as human beings, show similar asymmetry in the operant discrimination learning. This because of a lapse in the processing of information where negative information is ignored. This effect is best observed in conditioning experiments. However, the experiments have not deployed the use of human subjects to experiment the effect. Researchers continue to experiment with the negative effect to determine the effect in human beings. The experiments aim at determining alternatives to the positive effect. Though most of the conditioning experiments use non-human subjects, it is readily observable in humans. For example, in advertising where attractive models display side-by-side with marketable products. An example of negative classical conditioning is the induction of phobia in humans as studied by Watson and Rayner (1920).
Hergenhahn, B., and Henley, T. B. (2014). An introduction to the history of psychology.
This theory gears well with psychology’s emphasis on behavior. For example, operational definition of the learning process could be in the form of making a specified number of correct turns in the T-maze. Conversely, anxiety and intelligence of an organism can take the operational definition of the scores obtained in a relevant test. Neo-behaviorism is such that it bases its conclusions on publicly observable behavior rather than mental capabilities. This theory is such that if the operational definitions could be assigned to a concept it is scientifically meaningless. This meant emphasizing logical positivism than earlier concepts of earlier positivism with no aversion to theory. Neo-behaviorism theory required combining with logical positivism. Through logical positivism made the study of many forms of behaviorisms.
McLeod, S. (2012). Classical conditioning. Simply Psychology, Retrieved from /classical-conditioning.html
John Broadus Watson familiarized the behaviorism idea in 1913 through his classical piece "Psychology as the b...