August
1999 QUESTION 3 Total Marks: 20 Marks |
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SUGGESTED SOLUTIONS |
| (a) | The simplest form of learning is habituation. Define the terms 'learning' and 'habituation' and give an example of each. | [4] |
| Learning is a
relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior as a result of experience e.g learn
to add numbers. Habituation is the tendency to become familiar with a stimulus as a result of repeated exposure. e.g habituate to the sound of the radio.
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| (b) | Briefly describe each of the following
learning strategies. (i) Classical conditioning (DO NOT describe Pavlov's experiment or the basic principles of learning) (ii) Operant conditioning (iii) Observational learning For each of the following examples, state what type of learning strategy is employed. (iv) A teacher demonstrates how to perform a mathematics operation on the board. (v) Students leave the classroom when the fire alarm ring. |
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[1] [1] |
| (i) Classical conditioning is learning by association. If an unconditioned stimulus leads to a certain response (UR), repeated and simultaneous presentation of a neutral stimulus (CS) with the unconditioned stimulus will cause a person to associate. The presentation of the neutral stimulus (CS) will generate a conditioned response (CR).
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| (ii) Operant conditioning is a goal directed form of learning OR works on the principle of reinforcement (positive and negative). It links actions to punishments and rewards OR it uses a 'carrot' and 'stick' approach.
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| (iii) Observational learning is a form of learning by watching others/models at work.. It is not gained through direct experience of the learner.
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| (iv) Observational learning.
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| (v) Classcial conditioning
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| (c) | What is the difference between discrimination and generalization? Give examples to explain your answer. | [2] |
| Generalization: after
conditioning similar stimuli will also evoke conditioned response e.g tones close in pitch
will generate the response. Discrimination is learning to distinguish between stimuli.
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| (d) | Human languages share three essential properties. Briefly describe these three properties. | [6] |
| Semantically refers to
the fact that languages are composed of separate units, each units has a meaning. A word
is made up of one or more morphemes. Generativity is the capacity of using rules to combine words to produce new sentences. Iteration and recursion enables this flexibility OR words can be inserted into a sentence to form a new sentence OR words can be appended behind a sentence to form a new sentence OR words the words must be combined in a manner that is grammatically correct. Displacement is the ability to communicate about events that are not here or now.
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