Chapter 10: Functionalism at the University of Chicago and Columbia University

Chapter Outline
Introduction Chicago John Dewey Deweys Early Life Dewey at Johns Hopkins University and the University of Michigan Deweys Functionalism Deweys Views of Education Hull House: Applied Social Science Deweys Later Life Angell and Carr: Functionalism at the University of Chicago James Rowland Angell Angells Functionalism Harvey A Carr Woodworth and Thorndike: Functionalism at Columbia University Robert Sessions Woodworth Woodworths Early Life Woodworths Early Research Woodworths Psychometric Studies Babe Ruth at Columbia University Imageless Thoughts Woodworths Motivational Psychology Edward Lee Thorndike Thorndikes Early Life Thorndikes Animal Learning Experiments at Harvard Thorndike at Columbia University: Cats in a Puzzle Box Box Z and Biological Constraints on Learning Thorndike and Education Thorndike and Mental Measurements Thorndikes Applied Research Thorndikes Honors Conclusion

Essay Questions
Dewey presented a Structuralists analysis of a child reaching for the flame of a candle, and then he identified the problems of such an analysis. Summarize his analysis and subsequent criticism. Angell summarized the differences between Functionalism and Structuralism in his APA presidential address. What did he say? What is the doctrine of formal discipline? How did Thorndike and Woodworth evaluate it? What did they find? 1

What modification did Woodworth propose to the standard S-R paradigm? What was his criticism of the paradigm, and how was his modification going to improve upon it? Describe one of Thorndikes learning experiments with cats. Include an explanation of the law of effect. What did his critics complain about? Compare Deweys and Thorndikes views of the role of hereditary in determining intelligence.

Suggested Activities and Assignments

Rather than explain to your class how Darwin and Galton set the stage for Functionalism, ask them to explain. Once you have explained what Functionalism is, see if they can identify how evolution and anthropometrics led to this sort of approach. Although the label of functionalist is no longer used, many lines of modern psychological research maintain a functionalist flavor. Once youve described what functionalism was about, see if students can explain how it is still a part of research in such areas as developmental psychology, learning, neuroscience, etc. Ask students what they think about the doctrine of formal discipline. Are there any instances in which they think it is valid? Ask them to generate examples of positive (and negative) transfer of training from their own experiences. Have students compare Thorndikes learning theory to the insight learning of Tolman. Are the systems totally incompatible? Which do they think is better? Why? Woodworth disliked the psychologist practice of using the same words in research that everyday people used in common language. He dreamed of the day psychology created its own exclusive technical vocabulary. Ask students to come up with good examples of such words, and propose improvements.

Web Links
http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Dewey/reflex.htm Read the article that started Functionalism, Deweys Reflex Arc Concept (1896) http://www.ucls.uchicago.edu/ Website for University of Chicagos Lab School, includes history and photo archive http://www.siu.edu/~deweyctr/ The Center for Dewey Studies is a program of Southern Illinois University http://cuip.uchicago.edu/jds/ University of Chicagos John Dewey Society for the Study of Education and Culture

http://www.uvm.edu/~dewey/ The University of Vermonts John Dewey Project on Progressive Education http://www.hullhouse.org/website/ Learn more about Jane Addams Hull House http://www.uic.edu/jaddams/hull/hull_house.html Website for the Hull House Museum, at the University of Illinois at Chicago http://www.toynbeehall.org.uk/ Londons Toynbee Hall served as a model for Hull House http://www.oclc.org/dewey/about/biography.htm No, John Dewey did not invent the Dewey Decimal System. But Melville Dewey did http://members.aol.com/santayana/ Learn more about the philosopher George Santayana http://www.virtualvermont.com/history/jdewey.html http://www.virtualvermont.com/history/jangell.html Both Dewey and Angell have biographies at Virtual Vermont http://spartan.ac.brocku.ca/~lward/angell/Angell_1906/Angell_1906_00.html The full text of J.R.Angells Psychology (1906) http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Angell/functional.htm Read Angells (1906) APA address, The Province of Functional Psychology http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Woodworth/murchison.htm Although he lived until 1962, Woodworth wrote his autobiography in 1930 http://www.intandem.com/NewPrideSite/MD/Lesson18/Session.html Robert Sessions account of the Boston Tea Party http://www.arl.org/training/ilcso/transfer.html http://www.speaking.com/articles_html/SusanBoyd_568.html Transfer of training is still advocated in many workplaces, such as these http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Thorndike/Transfer/transfer1.htm Thorndike and Woodworths (1901) paper on transfer of training http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/war/wwone/shellshock_01.shtml BBC page about Shell chock during WWI. No mention of Woodworth http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Fullerton/ Text and illustrations of Fullertons Why Babe Ruth is Greatest Home-Run Hitter

http://www.calstatela.edu/faculty/nthomas/mipia.htm Interesting Introduction to the Science and Philosophy of Mental Imgery http://www.psy.pdx.edu/PsiCafe/KeyTheorists/Thorndike.htm Links to information about several aspects of Thorndikes life and career http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Thorndike/Animal/ Full text of Thorndikes (1911) influential Animal Intelligence http://psychclassics.yorku.ca/Thorndike/education.htm Thorndikes (1910) Contributions of Psychology to Education http://tip.psychology.org/thorn.html Brief summary of Thorndikes connectionism and three laws

Multiple Choice Questions

1. Functionalism was founded by __________ at _____________. a. Dewey; Cornell b. Woodworth; Harvard c. Woodworth; Columbia d. Dewey; Chicago Ans: D

2. Although John Dewey made important contributions to psychology, he is best remembered as one of Americas foremost ____________. a. philosophers b. authors c. playwrights d. physiologists Ans: A

3. What experience convinced Dewey that public education was in need of reform? a. His own schooling as a child b. The education classes he took in college c. Teaching high school d. Discussions with colleagues at his university Ans: C

4. Dewey attended graduate school at _________, studying psychology under __________. a. Harvard; James b. Columbia; Cattell c. Johns Hopkins; Hall d. Leipzig; Wundt Ans: C

5. One of Deweys only empirical studies was an examination of ____________ in children. a. language development b. problem solving c. social interaction d. hand-eye coordination Ans: A

6. The founding of Functionalism is marked by the publication of a. The Province of Functional Psychology b. The Reflex Arc Concept in Psychology c. Psychology from the Perspective of a Functionalist d. Imageless Thought Ans: B

7. Which of the following statements best characterizes the Functionalist emphasis? a. Studying the effects of experience on our behaviors b. Identifying the basic elements of the mind c. Identifying the S that precedes each R d. Studying the adaptive value of consciousness Ans: D

8. In Deweys analysis of a hypothetical child reaching for the flame of a candle, his main point was: a. children learn optimally through punishment b. the entire scenario should be broken down into S and R elements c. responses and ideas always occur in a context d. Both B and C Ans: C

9. Dewey believed that the key(s) to human triumph over the struggle for survival was a. psychological research b. education c. expansion of industry d. All of the Above Ans: B

10. The laboratory school of ________ was partially modeled after __________. a. Dewey; Hull-House b. Dewey; the York Retreat c. Angell; Hull-House d. Hull; York-House Ans: A

11. On what topic did Dewey advise people from China, Japan and Russia? a. Psychology b. Philosophy c. Political Reform d. Educational Reform Ans: D

12. Which of the following statements best characterizes Deweys view of the role of education? a. To pass on conventional knowledge b. To develop creative intelligence c. To prepare children for an occupation d. To teach children how to memorize Ans: B

13. What prompted Dewey to leave the University of Chicago? a. The great Chicago fire b. His antiwar sentiments led to his termination c. His successful run for a political office d. The merger of his lab school with the department of education Ans: D

14. While ________ is credited with founding functionalism, it was the APA presidential address of ________ that better defined what functionalism was. a. Darwin; Dewey b. Dewey; Angell c. Angell; Carr d. Carr; Woodworth Ans: B

15. Angell suggested that structuralism ________, while functionalism ______________. a. is the psychology of mental elements; is the psychology of mental operations b. asks what is the mind? ; asks what is the mind for? c. is a basic form of research; is an applied form of research d. Both A and B Ans: D

16. Carrs research was in the area(s) of a. the expression of emotion b. visual perception c. comparative psychology d. both B and C Ans: D

17. What label is used to describe a situation in which improving one mental function leads to increased efficiency in another? a. cognitive codependency b. proactive interference c. formal learning d. transfer of training Ans: D

18. What does the doctrine of formal discipline state? a. The mind is strengthened through the study of Latin, Greek, and mathematics b. A rigid program of strict punishment is the ideal means for rearing children c. Disciplinary problems should be handled by the community, not the immediate parents d. Both B and C Ans: A

19. The following quotation is associated with what topic? The study of the Latin language itselfsecures the formation and growth of those mental qualities which are the best preparitives for the business of life. a. The Hippocratic oath b. The doctrine of formal discipline c. Morgans cannon d. The credo of the Functionalist Ans: B

20. Woodworths research on transfer of training _______ lend support to _______. a. did; doctrine of formal discipline b. did not; doctrine of formal discipline c. did; the efficacy of intelligence testing d. did not; the efficacy of intelligence testing Ans: B

21. Robert Woodworth and Frank Angell disagreed on the legitimacy of ______________. a. intelligence testing b. functionalism c. animal research d. formal discipline Ans: D

22. What was Woodworths primary objection to claims of clear-cut racial differences? a. He couldnt accept that other races occasionally scored higher than his own race b. The claims focused on mean differences while ignoring overlapping population distributions c. Of necessity, studies always included subjects who were not pure examples of a given race d. The tasks used to measure differences were always biased towards one race or another Ans: B 23. What contribution did Woodworth make to Americas WWI efforts? a. He enlisted in the army the very day America joined the war. b. He developed a test to predict vulnerability to shell shock. c. He screened draftees to determine their best assignment d. None. He was staunchly opposed to Americas involvement in the war. Ans: B

24. Woodworths presidential address to the APA was on the topic of ____________. a. the APAs responsibility in a time of war b. animal learning c. imageless thoughts d. parapsychology vs experimental psychology Ans: C

25. Woodworth wrote a book about ________ titled Dynamic Psychology. a. drives b. evolutionary psychology c. the versatility of emotional expressions d. higher cognitive functions Ans: A

26. Why did Woodworth want to modify the S-R formula of psychology? a. He rejected behaviorist approaches b. He wanted to emphasize the importance of motivation c. He wanted to make the role of the active organism explicit d. Both B and C Ans: D

27. Who wrote the following? The O inserted between S and R makes explicit the obvious role of the living and active organism in the process. a. Watson b. Carr c. Woodworth d. Thorndike Ans: C

28. Thorndikes research on learning in chickens was likely influenced by the related work of a. Lloyd Morgan b. Erasmus Darwin c. Hermann Helmhotz d. Jane Addams Ans: A

29. Which of the following is the most accurate summary of the law of effect? a. Every action is followed by an equally powerful reaction b. Only through systematic manipulation can cause-effect determinations be made c. Behaviors that are rewarded are repeated, and those that arent rewarded arent repeated d. Study of traditional topics like Latin are most effective in building mental abilities Ans: C

30. What did Thorndikes CAVD test measure? a. Emotional stability b. Intelligence c. Various anthropometric attributes d. Ability to escape a puzzle box Ans: B

31. Thorndike assigned G and P scores to quantify the qualities of a. a persons intelligence b. races c. cities d. chickens Ans: C

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