Learning

SACE BOARD SUBJECT OUTLINE

· Components in classical conditioning (unconditioned and conditioned stimuli and unconditioned and conditioned responses); components in operant conditioning (positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, punishment, schedules of reinforcement, and preparedness); the importance of timing in classical and operant conditioning (contiguity and contingency); stimulus generalisation, stimulus discrimination and extinction; the factors that influence learning through observation; the distinction between the acquisition and performance of a learned response.

· Psychological principles concerning learning in everyday experiences and events (e.g. coin deposit incentives to return shopping trolleys, customer loyalty programs, classical conditioning in advertising, explicit and implicit observational learning from television programs) and in psychological interventions, including behaviour modification and systematic desensitisation of phobias.

· Application of these psychological principles to social issues (e.g. reducing criminal behaviour, increasing recycling) and personal growth (e.g. overcoming one’s own annoying habits).

· Investigation designs and methods of assessing psychological responses used to study learning.

· Ethical issues associated with research and applications in the area of learning.