What is trial and error?
Q: What is trial and error?
A: Trial and error is a primitive method of solving problems that involves repeated and varied attempts until success or until the agent stops trying. It is an unsystematic method that doesn't employ insight, theory or organised methodology.
Q: Who coined the term "trial and error"?
A: C. Lloyd Morgan coined the term "trial and error" after trying out similar phrases such as "trial and failure" and "trial and practice."
Q: What is Morgan's canon?
A: Morgan's canon is a principle that states that animal behaviour should be explained in the simplest possible way.
Q: How is trial and error learning related to animal behaviour?
A: When behaviour seems to imply higher mental processes, it might be explained by trial and error learning. An example is the skilful way in which a terrier named Tony opened the garden gate.
Q: What did Thorndike's famous experiment involve?
A: Thorndike's famous experiment involved placing a cat in a series of puzzle boxes in order to study the law of effect in learning.
Q: What did Thorndike observe about learning in his experiment?
A: Thorndike observed that learning was promoted by positive results.
Q: Who refined and extended Thorndike's observation on learning and positive results?
A: B.F. Skinner refined and extended Thorndike's observation on learning and positive results through his theory of operant conditioning.
