Trial Error Method: Famous psychologists and educationist Thorndike did extensive and thorough research on this method on both men and animals. Thorndike advocated learning through trial-and-error method. The soul of this method is repetition. In a situation a person commits errors. In this process of trying to solve the problem of adjustment to the situation, the number of errors gradually decreases. Eventually, through repeated attempts (testing), the error will be completely eliminated. This is how learning happens. Through trial and error. This means that learning happens by error. From errors one gains experience and knowledge which enables him to solve the problem. This method is also known as hit or miss method. Both children and adults learn by this method.
E.L. Thorndike outlined three major laws of learning. These laws have great educative significance for the teacher.
Their nature and instructive behaviour can be described below :
(i) Law of effect: This law states, “When a variable association is made between a stimulus and a response and is accompanied or followed by a satisfying condition, the strength of that connection increases when an annoying Occurs to or with the situation. Matters, its strength is diminished."
The main principle of this law is that learning depends on the result or aftereffect.
The educational value of this law is quite obvious. The educational progress of students follows this law of effect. Success or satisfaction in the result leads to more success. On the other hand, dissatisfaction with the result discourages them.
(ii) Law of Practice: This law states that learning experiences can be made permanent through repeated use. This law is divided into two sub-rules – the law of use and the law of non-use. The rules of use say. "When a mutable relationship is made between a position and the response is that the strength of the connection, other things being equal, has increased.
This rule of exercise has a direct effect on education. Students need repetition or practice to make their early learning experience more permanent. The goal of all learning is nothing more than the formation of desired habits through repetition. On the other hand, undesirable and harmful behavior and their habit formation should be prevented by disuse.
(iii) Law of Readiness: This law states that, “When a bond is ready to work it gives annoyance. When a bond which is not ready to work is ready to work If so, then there is annoyance." So, this rule draws our attention to the fact that physical preparation is an essential condition of learning.
The educational significance of this law is more valuable for the teacher and the taught. The teacher should know the appropriate time and situation for learning. He should always be guided by the principle of psycho-physical preparation of the learner. Mechanical learning without preparation fails to achieve the desired results. It is clear from the above discussion that Thorndike's laws of learning have great educational value.
