FTCE Professional Education Practice Exam

What is Pavlov known for in psychology?

1. Development of self-regulated learning strategies

2. His work in social learning theory

3. Research in classical conditioning and behaviorism

4. Application of negative reinforcement techniques

The correct answer is: Research in classical conditioning and behaviorism

Pavlov is best known for his foundational research in classical conditioning, which significantly contributed to the field of behaviorism. His famous experiments with dogs demonstrated how a neutral stimulus, when paired repeatedly with an unconditioned stimulus that elicits a natural response, can eventually produce a conditioned response on its own. For example, he conditioned dogs to salivate at the sound of a bell when that sound was repeatedly associated with the presentation of food. This study not only illustrated the principles of learning through association but also laid the groundwork for behaviorism, influencing future psychological research and applications. The other choices are related to different psychological concepts. Self-regulated learning strategies focus on how learners take control of their own learning process, social learning theory involves learning through observation and modeling behaviors, while negative reinforcement pertains to a specific behavioral technique used to increase desired behaviors by removing aversive stimuli. However, none of these accurately represent Pavlov's contributions, which center specifically on the mechanisms of classical conditioning.