👉Trial and Error Theory of Learning👈
This theory was propagated by Edward Lee Thorndike (1874-1949).
According to Thorndike.
learning consists of making bonds or connections between stimuli and responses.
These bonds are made in the nervous system. According to Thorndike, learning is nothing but the stamping in of the correct responses and stamping out of the incorrect responses through trial and error.
To support his point of view, the following is one of the experiments conducted by Thorndike.
A hungry cat was placed in a box. There was only one door for exit which could be opened by correctly manipulating a latch.
fish was placed outside the box which A worked as a strong motive for the cat to come out of the box.
Consequently the cat made a number of random movements such as biting, clawing and scrambling around as it struggled to come out the box.
In oneof the random movements, by chance it manipulated the latch.
The door then opened and the cat came out and got its reward.
Foranother trial, the process was repeated.
But this time it took less time in coming out, On subsequent trials such incorrect responses like biting and clawing gradually diminished until the cat reached a stage when it manipulated the latch as soon as it was put in the box and came out immediately to eat the fish.
In this way, gradually the cat learned the art of opening the door.
Thorndike named the learning of his experimental cat as 'trial and error learning.
He maintained that learning is nothing but the stamping in of the correct responses and stamping out of the incorrect responses through trial and error In trying for the correct solution the cat made many vain attempts, committed error after error before gaining success on subsequent trials, tried to avoid the erroneous ways and repeated correct way of manipulating the latch.
🔻From the above experiments, Thorndike said that the following components or elements are involved in the process of
learning.
🔹Drive
🔹 Goal
🔹Barrier or blocks which prevent the individual reaching the goal
🔹Random attempts to overcome the
🔹barriers
🔹Chance success
🔹Selection of the correct response
🔹Fixation of the correct response in the neuromuscular system of the individual
🔻 Major theoretical principles which form the basis of Thorndike theory of learning are
🔹Learning involves trial and error of selection and connection
🔹Learning is the result of the formation of connections
🔹Learning is improvement in perfor o mance not insightful.
🔹Learning is direct, not mediated by ideas.
🔻Based on his theory, Thorndike put forward the following laws of learning The law of readiness
🔹The law of effect of satisfaction! dissatisfaction
🔹The law of exercise or practice the law of multiple responses or varied reactions
🔹The law of attitude
🔹The law of analogy
🔹The law of associative shifting.
