Monday, January 31, 2011

Here are some more problems in which you can determine the type of learning.

Instructions: Determine the type of learning as operant, classical, cognitive, or observational. Identify the various components (e.g., UCS, UCR, CS, CR for classical; positive or negative reinforcement, positive or negative punishment if operant).

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Classical Conditioning?

An example of classical conditioning on one of my favorite TV shows:

Another example of learning...

Can you believe this?  Think about what type of learning took place for this to happen:

More on Little Albert

A psychologist spent about 7 years trying to track down and determine what became of Little Albert.  Read this brief article to find out what happened to dear Albert.

Flashcards

Look!  We can embed the Quizlet flashcards onto the blog.  This is very cool.

Learn:

Scatter:

Focus Questions pp.218-227

Cognitive learning is often equated to the idea of an "aha" moment.
What is the difference between cognitive learning and operant and classical conditioning?
Summarize Kohler's research and how Sultan demonstrated insight learning.
      -Here is a video that we will watch in class tomorrow that shows cognitive (insight) learning, similar to Sultan's learning:


Explain Toman's experiments with rats and mazes.  (cognitive maps)

Observational (Social) Learning
Discuss the significance Bandura's BoBo doll study.  Here is the video we will watch in class tomorrow:


Understand the implications of observational learning, especially when it is aggressive.  (Think violent video games and movies.)
Although much of the reading focused on aggressive observational learning, understand that many positive behaviors are learned in this same way.

------------

Define long-term potentiation.
*Spend the time to understand table 6.3 on p. 224.
Review the three bullet points on p.227.  Understand that we are still learning about learning.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Grades

Grades are due at 5pm tomorrow, but I don't think you'll be able to access PowerSchool until after Report Card Pick Up.  Please ask your advisor if you would like to see your final grade in psychology.  I will be entering all test corrections and essay revisions into the gradebook by tomorrow afternoon.

Reading Focus

Hi everyone,

As you complete your reading for Wednesday's class, focus on the following ideas and questions:

-What is the difference between classical and operant conditioning?
-Connect your own personal experience to conditioning.  What have you learned through each type of conditioning?  It might help to think of examples from your school and home (look to your parents) experiences.
-Understand B.F. Skinner's connection to operant conditioning.
-What is the different between positive and negative reinforcement?  Memorize the words that equate to positive and negative reinforcement.  The book does a good job of explaining this.
-Understand the impact of reinforcement frequency (i.e., continuous vs. intermittent reinforcement) and when to use each type.
-Know the types of ration and interval schedules.  Come up with a few examples of your own that aren't listed in the book.
-Understand the difference between punishment and reinforcement.
-Memorize table 6.1 on p. 213.
-Memorize table 6.2 on p.215.

You will have a short quiz on Wednesday.  This quiz will cover pp.195-218 in your book.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Study Guide: Semester 1 Final Exam

Study Guide: Part 1
Format
Your final exam is on Wednesday, January 19, 2011. 
The final exam will have two parts: 
  • The multiple-choice section with be 50 questions, and you will have 35 minutes to complete it.  This section is worth two-thirds of the exam grade.
  • The free-response section is one question that accounts for one-third of the exam grade.  You will have 25 minutes to complete the free-response section.
Use the questions on this study guide to prepare for the final exam.  You will also want to review your old exams, class notes, notes you have taken from the textbook, AP study book, flash cards, the class blog, and Quizlet.

History and Approaches     (4 questions)
Section 1: Due Thursday, January 13, 2011
  • Describe and compare the following different theoretical approaches in explaining behavior:
    • structuralism, functionalism, and behaviorism in the early years
    • Gestalt, psychoanalytic/psychodynamic, and humanism emerging later
    • evolutionary, biological, and cognitive as more contemporary approaches
  • Distinguish the different domains of psychology:
    • biological, clinical, cognitive, counseling, developmental, educational, experimental, human factors, industrial-organizational, personality, psychometric, and social.

Research Methods    (11 questions)
  • Differentiate types of research (e.g., experiments, correlational studies, survey research, naturalistic observation, and case studies) with regard to purpose, strengths, and weaknesses.
  • Identify independent, dependent, confounding, and control variables in experimental designs.
  • Distinguish between random assignment of participants to conditions in experiments and random selection of participants, primarily in correlational studies and surveys.
  • Compute measures of central tendency (e.g., mean, median, mode, and range)
  • Identify how ethical issues inform and constrain research practices.

Biological Bases of Behavior    (10 questions)
  • Identify the parts of the neuron
  • Describe the process of transmission of a signal between neurons
  • Describe the nervous system and its subdivisions and functions:
    • central and peripheral nervous systems
    • major brain regions, lobes, and cortical areas (including Broca’s area and Wernicke’s area)
  • Describe the different types of brain imaging techniques (e.g., EEG, CAT scan, MRI, PET scan, fMRI
  • Explain how heredity, environment, and evolution work together to shape behavior

Classical Conditioning

Here are the two videos we watched in class today:

Pavlov


Little Albert

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Study Guide: Unit 5 Test

Before going out on break, I provided you with a vocabulary list with your winter break homework.  You need to know these terms for Friday's test.  Using Quizlet will help!

In addition to the vocabulary words, ensure that you understand the following:

-The differences among the three dream theories: Freudian (psychoanalytic), information-processing, and activation-synthesis.  Understand which theories are modernly accepted.
-Hypnosis
        -vocabulary related to hypnosis (e.g., posthypnotic suggestion)
        -Is hypnosis a successful therapy?
-Psychoactive drugs (the Quizlet flash card set is incredibly valuable for this section)
        -know the types (e.g., opiates, stimulants, depressants, and hallucinogens) and examples in each category
        -tolerance, withdrawal, physical dependency, psychological dependency
-Sleep disorders: symptoms, treatment, which ones are most common, in which sleep stage the disorder occurs
-Sleep stages: Stages 1-4 and REM (sometimes referred to as stage 5), brain activity at each stage, REM rebound
-Priming
-Circadian rhythms

Your essay will ask you to write about one of your dreams from your dream journal, so make sure you have your journal with you on Friday.  The essay will need to include various explanations and applications of the three major dream theories.

The test will be about 20-30 multiple choice questions and an essay.  You will have 40 minutes to complete the exam.  Bring your textbook to read the next assignment if you finish testing early.

Quizlet!

Please remember to sign up for an account on quizlet.  Sign in each time you review the flashcards or play a game, so it can record the highest scores.  

I am offering extra credit to anyone who will create flash cards for the previous units we have studied.  You can do this at home or during my office hours.  Flash card sets need to be created by this Sunday night at 9pm, giving students in the class a little more than a week to study the vocabulary.  Please let me know if you are interested, and I will give you more details.



Dreaming: A Recap

This site offers a solid recap on dreaming.  http://health.howstuffworks.com/mental-health/sleep/dreams/dream.htm

Monday, January 3, 2011

Today's PowerPoint: States of Consciousness

Did you miss any of today's notes?  Want to preview the notes for the next class?  Here is the PowerPoint I showed.  Please remember that there are some typos that I couldn't edit, so you will want to rely on your class notes.  http://www.slideshare.net/colonelhomer/chapter-7-ap-psych-states-of-consciousness

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Great Studying Tool!

I just found this great site--I will be adding information to it soon, and we will have our own page.  For now, you can use another teacher's generated list of words for the states of consciousness unit.  It offers a different way to study your flashcards instead of just having them on your bedside table.  http://quizlet.com/315655/mrs-maynards-ap-psychology-class-chapter-7-states-of-consciousness-flash-cards/