Correct Answer - Option 3 : Conditioning theory of learning
Conditioning is the process of modifying one’s behaviour with the help of some preparation or training. Behaviourism theory is an idea which states that learning takes place owing to conditioning. Two types of conditioning have been identified. The first one is called classical conditioning, and the second instrumental/operant conditioning.
Through conditioning, students can be taught writing and speaking as well. At the primary level, they are introduced with aspects of these skills so that they are conditioned, and at later stages, they learn well both these skills.
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Classical conditioning: Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist, did pioneering work on classical conditioning (around 1890s). He noticed that in his laboratory, hungry dogs began to salivate when they were about to be fed, even before they could see or smell the food. Strangely, they seemed to be salivating at the mere sight of their keeper or even when they heard his footsteps. This simple observation led Pavlov to a series of carefully designed experiments involving ringing of a bell or sounding a buzzer – neither of which ordinarily leads to salivation - and immediately presenting dogs with food, a stimulus that does lead to salivation. After a considerable number of such combined presentations of sounding of bell and then food, the dogs salivated with the sounding of the bell even if food is not presented
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Operant conditioning: Operant conditioning is the outcome of a series of elaborately designed experiments by B.F. Skinner (around 1940s) with rats and pigeons. In general terms, operant conditioning is to strengthen (Skinner calls ‘reinforce’) the behaviour emitted by an organism (Emitted behaviour is called operant) so that the probability of its occurrence increases. This increase is the result of reinforcement. The key concern of Skinner was to discover the relationship between reinforcement and behaviour and to clarify how behaviour is affected by its consequences.
Hence, we conclude that the above statement is of the conditioning theory of learning.
