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A Comparative Analysis of the Writings of John Dewey and B. F. Skinner as They Relate to the Development of a Technology of Teaching

The problem of this study was to effect a comparative study of B. F. Skinner and John Dewey with respect to the development of a technology of teaching. The purposes of this study were to analyze and compare the writings of Dewey and Skinner as they relate to the development of a technology of teaching, to synthesize the findings of this analysis and comparison and direct it to the technology of teaching, and to create and enumerate new insights into the teaching phenomena. The procedures for completing the study were based upon the selection of four basic constructs which allowed a framework on which to hang a comparative study of B. F. Skinner and John Dewey as their writings related to the development of a technology of teaching. These constructs were (1) naturalism and the scientific point of view; (2) knowledge and experience; (3) evolution and control of culture; and (4) the philosophy of education as it relates to the technology of teaching. The methods used to complete the study were the analysis and synthesis of Dewey's and Skinner's writings and their relative positions to the four constructs mentioned were shown. Other authorities were also consulted in hopes that the positions of the two men might be delineated accurately. Certain selected passages of each man's writings were presented and compared hoping to show clearly the relationship between the two men's writings and how they relate to the development of a teaching technology. Any person who is concerned about education, its processes, and its outcome has an opportunity to design and thereby improve the process by the adoption of a technology of teaching as prescribed by the analysis of Dewey and Skinner, or perhaps in consequence of attempting, in light of their writings, seriously to re-think what it is we believe and do.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:unt.edu/info:ark/67531/metadc501001
Date05 1900
CreatorsMcCain, Harry B.
ContributorsMartin, B. E., Harris, Ben G., DuChemin, Roderic C., Rollins, Forrest L.
PublisherNorth Texas State University
Source SetsUniversity of North Texas
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis or Dissertation
Formativ, 142 leaves, Text
RightsPublic, McCain, Harry B., Copyright, Copyright is held by the author, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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