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Educational Psychology / Unit 5   EDP 0405 worked example, 60 to 90 seconds

The Four Steps of Modeling

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The idea

Bandura described four steps that observational learning requires. Attention: the learner must notice the model and the relevant behavior. Retention: the learner must remember what was observed. Reproduction: the learner must be physically and mentally able to perform it. Motivation: the learner must have a reason to perform it, often from seeing the model rewarded, which is vicarious reinforcement, or not seeing the model punished, vicarious punishment. If any step fails, the behavior is not reproduced.

In practice

Worked example: a student watches a teacher solve an equation, remembers every step, wants to succeed, but cannot yet do the arithmetic. Reproduction failed.

Where people slip

To diagnose a failure, check the steps in order rather than assuming low motivation. A student who never looked up failed at attention; one who forgot failed at retention; one who could but chose not to failed at motivation, and each needs a different response.

Your place on the trail

Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.

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