Students typically struggle to understand operant conditioning concepts. However, no well-designed experimental research exists examining the efficacy of popular media in teaching these concepts. The present randomised, double-blind experiment examined the impact of using exemplars of operant conditioning concepts (positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment) from popular television on learning operant conditioning concepts in a group of 171 undergraduate students enrolled in introductory psychology classes. The experimental group indicated more enjoyment of the educational session but scored only marginally higher on a learning assessment of basic operant conditioning concepts.
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