Correct Answer - Option 4 : All of the above
In many situations, we learn by trial and error. Here we make a number of attempts for a particular task or problem and find more attempts rewarding. The satisfying feeling of rewards strengthens particular stimulus-response connections while the unsuccessful attempts are stamped out through practice. This type of learning is based on Thorndike’s theory of connectionism.
- It implies that through conditioning, specific responses are linked with specific stimuli. The connections between stimuli and responses are formed through random trial and error.
- The law of trial and error was formulated after experiments on a hungry cat imprisoned in a cage. When the cat could press the lever of the cage through several trials, it would get food as the reward. The number of unsuccessful attempts was reduced through practice and successful attempts got strengthened.
- The law has significant implications in classroom learning. When used appropriately by the teacher, they can help in developing the skills vocabulary, and memorizing abilities of children.
- Hence For trial and error, all three are essential, i.e. a barrier is required to stimulate the motivation, motivation is required to overcome the barrier and a random response is required to learn from the outcomes.
Thus, it is concluded that motivation, barrier, and random response all are essential for trial and error learning.
