Trial and Error - A Legitimate Learning Process

Definition

Trial and error learning is a mode of learning that involves trying solutions and eliminating mistakes until a correct answer is discovered. Trial and error learning is often used as the last resort - after you have used  every thought processing attempt and the desired result has not been achieved.

Edward Lee Thorndike was the initiator of a theory of trial and error learning that could be used  in an experiment in the laboratory. As with much of Behavior Psychology his example had an animal subject - a cat trying to get out of a box with objects that would help it get out of the box - to get to a fish meal. He finally pulled down a ball that was hanging on a string  attached to a door and he is now enjoying his reward.

What is trial and error learning?"

Trial and error learning" has a history of being thought of as a simplistic method of learning - not really thinking. I disagree with that evaluation. The reality is that a learner is actively  trying different strategies that will eventually lead her to the solution of her problem. She is using all the relevant knowledge and wisdom that she is gathering - she will realize which attempts have been “mistakes” and which feedback that will enable her to be a successful problem solver.

Trial and Error Learning is both Simple and Complex.It is Simple to do and Complex to describe.

Let’s try an example that I may have used to get back to a decent golf drive.

Problem

Instead of hitting my usual good tee shot straight down the middle of the fairway with a slight fade, I’m hitting a slice that sometimes ends up out of bounds - two stroke penalty.

To The Practice Range

I’m standing here with my driver in hand going through possible solutions to my problem: how I have usually hit my driver (historical data); recalling my research (chapter of book on slices - oral suggestions from course partners - advice from the golf course pro);  recalling my past problems with all of my clubs, my need for more experiential data (e.g., hit some drives right now), realizing my interaction with my physical environment.

30 Minutes later - half of the balls in the bucket hit. 

Results - problem not solved after reviewing my attempts:

Stance: Reaching farther from and closer to the tee; trying open and closed stances;  playing the ball back or forward in my stance. They’re okay - so I’m moving on.

Hands: There may be a problem here. Pointing to my nose, instead of my right ear? That’s okay - not a problem.

Take away:  Lower and higher. Whoa! I’m picking the clubhead up instead of taking it straight back. An  “Aha! - Moment!” 

Okay - Let’s hit a few while paying attention to the takeaway. That one’s good. Another good one. And another good one.I have found my problem and I have corrected it.

Is this thinking and acting very different from the creative thinking process?

More modern thinking on this next week.