"Skinner Box"[img]2012q1/ct_etoefm_etoefspeakc_1630_20121[/img] Now listen

[Narrator 2] Number 6. Listen to part of a lecture. Then listen for a question about it. After you hear the
question, you have 20 seconds to prepare, and 60 seconds to record your answer.
[Narrator 1] Now listen to part of a lecture in a psychology class. The professor is discussing the Skinner
Box.
[Professor]
    There have been several references to the Skinner Box in your textbook because a lot of behavioral
modification experiments still use similar devices, even today, so let’s just take a few minutes and make
sure that everyone understands exactly what a Skinner Box is and how it works. The box which was
named for B. F. Skinner, the American psychologist who developed it... it was used in Skinner’s original
experiment in 1932, and its construction hasn’t changed much from that time. It’s just a small, empty
box, really, except for a bar with a cup underneath it. So picture this: In Skinner’s experiment, a rat that
had been deprived of food for twenty-four hours was placed in the box. As the animal began to explore
its new environment, it accidentally hit the bar, and a food pellet dropped into the cup. The rat ate the pellet
and continued exploring for more food. After hitting the bar three or four times with similar results, the
animal started hitting the bar with intention instead of by accident. It had learned it could get food by
pressing the bar. In other words, the food stimulus reinforced the bar pressing response. So... many
psychology experiments were modeled after Skinner’s original research. Um, various animals have been
placed in modified Skinner Boxes and presented with conditions that will result in a reward—food or
some other desirable object or experience. In most of the behavior modification experiments in your
book, you’ll see a citation for Skinner’s classic study.
[Narrator 1] Using the main points and examples from the lecture, describe the Skinner Box, and then
explain how the device is used in psychology experiments.
[Narrator 2] Please prepare your answer after the beep.
Beep
[Preparation time: 20 seconds]
[Narrator 2] Please begin speaking after the beep.
Beep
[Recording time: 60 seconds]
Beep