Observational Learning, by Razan Beydoun, Grades: 9-10

Introduction

Little girl trying mom's lipstick. Growing up concept. Little girl making makeup with mother cosmetics. Learning to be a woman woman applying makeup funny stock pictures, royalty-free photos & imagesTeach Your Child to Tie Shoes

In this Webquest, students will discover "Observational Learning", a fascinating concept that we have all experienced since we were young. As its name implies, this special kind of learning relies heavily on observation.

First, I invite you to think about the first time you tried to tie your shoelaces alone. Although the first trials were failing, you were excellently relying on the process of tying shoelaces that you observed on either one of your parents, siblings, teachers or even a YouTube video you watched.

Another relatable example is when young girls wear high heels and start walking in the house in an attempt to mimic their mother's behavior.

I, personally, still remember once my elder brother cut his chin with a blade as he attempted to mimic my father's actions while shaving his beard. Or, when I as a little girl used to wear makeup to imitate my mother's actions or behavior.

Based on the examples mentioned earlier, if you pay special attention, you will figure out that observation specifically plays a crucial role in helping us acquire knowledge.

Accordingly, Observational learning, also called imitation or modeling, is learning that occurs when a person observes and imitates behavior.

This Webquest will provide you with the necessary tools to gather valuable information that pertains to this interesting topic.

 

Task

laptop computer and pictures on board - Photo, Image

 

As a behaviorist studying observational learning, your task is to write a well-structured and detailed essay analyzing how individuals acquire new behaviors through the observation of others. Students are asked to apply their knowledge about observational learning by writing mainly about its history, the famous experiment conducted to study it, and the four processes that interfere with it. The essay should be composed of an introduction that hooks the reader, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

The goal of this task is to make sure that students grasp the concept of observational learning well and can apply their knowledge in their own words based on their understanding in one comprehensive essay.

 

Outline of the essay (instructions):

  • Introduction: 
  1. Topic sentence: Define observational learning.
  2. Background information: history, name of the scientist, and the conducted experiment to study observational learning.
  3. Thesis statement: state the main idea of the whole essay.
  • Body paragraph 1: 
  1. Explain in depth the four processes of observational learning.
  2. Discuss the concepts of vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment that pertain to the fourth process of observational learning (motivation: reinforcement).
  3. Provide examples of each process.
  • Body paragraph 2:
  1. Discuss how can parents teach their kids new skills through behavioral modeling.
  2. Provide engaging examples.
  • Conclusion:
  1. Restate thesis statement.
  2. Discuss in brief the importance of observational learning.
  3. Open new horizons to a new interesting topic in behaviorism.

 

In your essay, make sure to:

  1. Write about the history of observational learning and the first scientist who discovered it.
  2. Mention the experiment done to better study observational learning.
  3. Explain in detail the four processes of observational learning: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and reinforcement.
  4. Include engaging examples that pertain to the concept and show a deep understanding of it.
  5. Use correct language (free from spelling and grammatical mistakes).
  6. Divide your essay into an introduction, two body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
  7. Add a catchy title for your essay.
  8. Don't exceed a word limit of 800 words.
Process

This section contains a step-by-step guide to help students gather the required information about observational learning. Use the knowledge you gain from the resources given to accomplish the assigned task.

 

girl (3-5) wearing adult shoes, pushing doll in pram, low section - young girl in heels stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images

 

  • Step 1: Understanding observational learning:

The link below will give you access to a website from which you will gather information about the following:

https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/observational-learning

  1. Definition of observational learning.
  2. The history and name of the scientist who first discovered observational learning.

 

  • Step 2: Experiment done on observational learning:

Watch the video below to answer the questions that follow:

  1. What is the experiment conducted by the psychologist to study observational learning?
  2. Does observation truly impact our behavior?

 

  • Step 3: The four processes of observational learning:

Using the link below, refer to the section "4 stages of observational learning" to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-observational-learning

  1. What are the four processes of observational learning?
  2. Which stage requires us to return to stage one and witness the behavior again to either model it or avoid it?

 

  • Step 4: Vicarious reinforcement vs. Vicarious punishment:

Use the link below to answer the questions that follow:

https://www.vaia.com/en-us/textbooks/psychology/the-science-of-psychology-an-appreciative-view-4-edition/chapter-6/problem-3-what-are-vicarious-reinforcement-and-vicarious-pun/

  1. What is vicarious reinforcement?
  2. What is vicarious punishment?

 

  • Step 5: Applications of observational learning:

Using the following link, access the website to answer the question below:

https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-behavior-modeling-2609519

  1. What steps should parents use to teach their kids new skills through behavioral modeling?

 

  • How to organize your work?

  1. Go over the given resources and find answers to the questions asked.

  2. Refer to the "Task" section and read thoroughly the assigned homework.

  3. Before working on the assignment, check the "Evaluation" section to know the grading distribution.

  4. Write the essay following the proposed outline and by using the answers you got from the resources given above. Make sure to write the answers using your own words and not copy-paste from the websites.

Evaluation

Writing Essay (20 points):

Dear students, below you will find a detailed evaluation of the essay. It is highly recommended to abide by the outline proposed in the "Task" section as it constitutes the largest score. 

 

How to Write a Hook for an Essay | EssayService Blog

 

Grade distribution and evaluation:

Grading: / 20
Criteria Score
Title 2 points
Whole essay 10 points
Language 5 points
Creativity 3 points

 

Conclusion

By now, you have an idea of what observational learning means. Interestingly it is something we experience since childhood without noticing its huge impact on our knowledge. Millions and millions of examples pertain to our topic and indeed everyday life includes observational learning that we need to acquire new skills.

Thanks to the great psychologist Albert Bandura whose interest in behaviorism led him to observe the art of imitating others' behavior. The Bobo doll experiment helped him conclude that we get to model others' behaviors by passing through four major processes namely: attention, retention, motor reproduction, and finally reinforcement. 

By observing other people, we can acquire knowledge, skills, rules, strategies, beliefs, and attitudes. The capacity to learn by observation eliminates trial-and-error learning, and often such learning takes less time than any other kind of learning.

Observational learning can be an important factor in the functioning of role models in inspiring people and changing their perceptions. 

The picture below represents scenes from the Bobo doll experiment. It clearly shows the aggressive behavior of the child with poor Bobo when he was left with it after observing the behavior of the man in the first row and thus imitating it. This is in brief "Observational Learning".

 

Key Study: Bandura's Bobo Doll (1963) | IB Psychology

 

Credits

References:

Primary Beginnings. (n.d.). Child tying shoes [Photograph]. Primary Beginnings. https://www.primarybeginnings.com/blog/teach-your-child-to-tie-hisher-shoes

iStock. (n.d.). A child imitating an adult by applying lipstick [Photograph]. iStock. https://www.istockphoto.com/photos/woman-applying-makeup-funny

Create Vista. (n.d.). Hands typing on a laptop with various office tools drawn on a chalkboard [Photograph]. Create Vista. https://create.vista.com/photos/Jelent%C3%A9s/

Getty Images. (n.d.). Young girl in heels [Photographs]. Getty Images. https://www.gettyimages.fi/photos/young-girl-in-heels

IB PSYCHOLOGY. (n.d.). Bobo doll experiment [Photographs]. IB PSYCHOLOGY. https://www.themantic-education.com/ibpsych/2019/01/15/key-study-bandur…

ESSAY SERVICE.com. (n.d.). Writing in a notebook [Photographs]. ESSAY SERVICE.com. https://essayservice.com/blog/how-to-write-an-essay-hook

The Decision Lab. (n.d.). Observational learning. The Decision Lab. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://thedecisionlab.com/reference-guide/psychology/observational-learning

Indeed Editorial Team. (n.d.). What is observational learning?. Indeed. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/what-is-observational-learning

Vaia. (n.d.). *What are vicarious reinforcement and vicarious punishment?* Vaia. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.vaia.com/en-us/textbooks/psychology/the-science-of-psycholo…

Cherry, K. (2022, May 22). What is behavioral modeling? Verywell Mind. Retrieved October 20, 2024, from https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-behavior-modeling-2609519

AZ QUOTES. (n.d.). Plato's quote on knowledge [Photographs]. AZ QUOTES. https://www.azquotes.com/quote/758455 

Bandura, A. (2019, December 26). Bandura's Bobo Doll Experiment. YouTube. https://youtu.be/dmBqwWlJg8U

Teacher Page

Hello everyone, welcome to my Webquest.

I am Razan Beydoun, an AUB student and your Biology teacher.

I am highly interested in life science and specific fields in psychology pertaining to neuroscience and behaviorism.

Like any other educator, my goal is to make learning feasible for all students and to help them grasp knowledge in the most entertaining and beneficial way.

I consider education a huge responsibility as it frees generations from the prison of ignorance and darkness into knowledge and light.

I believe in knowledge and you!

Plato quote: The only real ill-doing is ...