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Title: The Principles of Learning and Behavior: Active Learning Edition (with Workbook)
ISBN: 0534605907
Author:
Michael P. Domjan
Publicate Date: 2005-08-09
Publish: 2005-08-09
List Price: $148.95
Average Customer Rating: 3.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $105.95
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $39.98
Amazon Merchant Price: $119.16
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| Customer Review: |
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1: Good seller.
This book came in a better condition than I thought it was going to. I like that is has all the extra info written on it.
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2: Hard- but good
This is a book about learning. Psychology is not an easy subject, but the author does a good job. The concepts are a little hard to grasp but the author does a great job with a difficult subject.
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3: Excellent coverage of basic learning theory
Let me start by saying I have used this text as required reading for several classes in Theories of Learning. I feel it is an excellent presentation of the basic concepts and groundwork needed to understand more complex theories and/or higher forms of learning. The physiological tie-ins are not central to the book, and if skipped it would not be detrimental to a complete understanding of the learning theory. My understanding is that this is the reason they are presented in boxed sidebars and not incorporated into the body of the text.
Admittedly the reading can be dense, and difficult to get through, but I feel this is because the subject matter is dense and complicated. One thing I have found with basic learning theory is that it is much like formal logic, with a cursory examination, many people feel it is straightforward and simple. But once one begins to deal with the `meat' of the subject, and attempts to understand the implications, exceptions, strengths and weaknesses of the topic, then the feeling of simplicity quickly disappears. It is at this point that one will find people either love the topic and want to know more, or they are put off and either blame their dislike for the topic on the presentation or the material itself. In case it is not obvious, I am one of the former types, and continue to enjoy the broader implications of learning theory, the rigor of the arguments involved and the breadth of explanatory power I see in this filed.
This leads me to one final point. I feel the author does an excellent job of relating the basic principals he discusses to real life examples. In particular the chapter on language provides an excellent source for class discussion, informed debate and application of the theoretical mechanisms presented in the first half of the book.
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4: not too great
This book was not written in the clearest fashion. He could have done a much better job and given more examples to make the concepts more concrete.
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5: Not for non-psychology majors
This book is only for those who already have a strong background in biology and psychology. However, if you are new to the subject, then this book is not for you. Students who are taking this subject as an elective will have a hard time with the research style presentation of topics. I'd much rather buy a book that explains topics as clear and concise as possible rather than have a play on words.
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