APPLICATION OF CLASSICAL AND OPERANT CONDITIONING THEORIES OF LEARNING IN COOPERATIVE MEMBER EDUCATION AND STAFF TRAINING

Abstract

Cooperative education and staff training are integral parts of cooperative business especially primary cooperative societies. To achieve the effectiveness of such education of members and staff training, infusion of psychological inputs has become necessary especially given the complex nature of cooperative members and the content of cooperative education. In recognition of the strength of theories of learning particularly classical and operant conditioning theories of learning, this paper discusses how the expositions of these theories could be integrated into cooperative education process so that maximum results could be achieved. Secondary data was used in form of relevant literature to gather the data. It was recommended amongst others that when a cooperative educator observes that a cooperative member or staff is nervous during the learning process or training programme, he should try to find out what caused it i.e. determining what stimuli is acting at the time and address it.