Educational Psychology / Unit 1 EDP 0006 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Thorndike's Law of Effect
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The idea
Edward Thorndike's law of effect holds that a connection is strengthened when followed by something satisfying and weakened when followed by something annoying.
In practice
A student praised for a clear answer becomes likelier to answer that way again.
Where people slip
Thorndike saw learning as incremental, built up gradually, and championed the scientific movement in education, including standardized achievement testing.
Your place on the trail
Every lesson rests on earlier ones and opens later ones. Tap any to jump.
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