Thorndike’s Secondary Law of Learning

Secondary laws have special importance. Primacy and recency effects are important in learning. And, according to Edward Thorndike, there are five types of secondary law of learning.  They are the law of primacy, the law of recency, the law of multiple responses, the law of set of attitude, and the law of multiple responses.

Thorndike’s secondary laws are used in education settings. E. Thorndike developed the secondary laws of learning. He explained the secondary laws after the primary laws.  It is very important to understand the laws of learning. Because understanding them increases the power of learning. And, all these laws strengthen learning.

 Types of Secondary laws

The Law of Primacy 

This law is illustrated with the help of an impressive initial process. In the primacy stage, the learning material must be presented in a logical sequence and step by step.

Example

In the exam, most students remembered the answer to questions at the beginning point than at the end point. This process is called the law of primacy effect.

The Law of Recency

According to this law, recently learned is best remembered compared to primacy.

Example

In the exam, most students recalled the answer to questions in the end points than the starting point. So, this process is called the law of recency effects.

The Law of intensity of stimulus 

According to this law of intensity, a strong stimulus is presented with the help of strong response. Thus, the intensity of the stimulus plays an important role in learning.

If the intensity of the stimulus is low, then learning will be very low. And if a strong stimulus leads to fast and effective learning.

Law of Multiple responses 

The response states that when one response does not bring satisfaction then it will initiate a new response.

If a child’s demand does not fulfill by the first response then the child moves to a new second response. This process is called the law of multiple responses.

The Law of set attitude

The best learning is possible if the learner set a positive attitude toward the task. And negative attitude leads to poor and slow learning. So, the attitude has its own importance.

Other Laws of Learning

The law of shifting in nature

The students have divided attention. They cannot keep their attention on one stimulus. And shift your attention elsewhere.

Attention also depends on stimulus. So, children should see the stimulus clearly.

The law of task-oriented approach

Most students have task-oriented. Their goals lack a goal-oriented approach. And students only complete their classwork. They do not know that study will be useful. Students study only to avoid being punished by the teacher. And children who goal-oriented. They are successful in the future. So, make the children goal-oriented.

The law of assimilation

A student adds new experience to an old experience. Old experience is called existing experience. So, they make decisions based on existing experience. And add new experiences. Children recall their old knowledge. This also increases their knowledge. Most children follow assimilation.

Educational Implications of Thorndike’s Secondary law of learning

1. Lesson can be interesting in the beginning on the basis of primacy law.

2. Slow learners will benefit from all laws.

3. Students get more benefits from strong stimulus. So, the teacher should write big letters on the board.

4. Children have multiple responses in class. And teacher conducts learning after recognizing children’s responses.

5. All laws suggest that children keep changing their attention.

6. Teacher teaches students to focus on goal-oriented approach.

7. Children explain new knowledge on the basis of old knowledge. So, the teacher checks the previous knowledge of the students.

8. Teacher tries to establish a positive attitude in students. So that students take more interest in their studies.

Conclusion

If you want to learn psychologically. Then you have to read secondary laws. Because these rules tell you how to learn. So, these laws have different significant roles. If you don’t keep a positive attitude while learning. Then your learning will be very slow. So, a positive attitude leads to fast learning. Sometimes student gives multiple responses. But some children have difficulty in learning.

It shows the effects of multiple responses. If the intensity of the stimulus is very poor. Then its effect is negative on learning. When students write the lessons. Then they forget the middle part of the lesson. This is due to primacy and recency effects. Children who are more affected by the primacy effect. Then the teacher should change his teaching method. Students should become goal-oriented.

As soon as the teacher understands the secondary laws. His teaching becomes more and more effective. Because it is very important to understand the children learning behavior. At last, children have multiple responses. And they change their response.

Causes of Forgetting