Human Learning

by Jeanne Ellis Ormrod

This best-seller covers a wide range of theories—conditioning, social-cognitive, information processing, and social constructivism—while providing solid material on the psychology of motivation. The author's lucid prose demonstrates how different concepts of learning relate to one another; dozens of proven examples emphasize meaningful learning and the implications of the latest research. Clearly and entertainingly written, this book covers the following learning and the brain; behaviorism and classical conditioning; effects of aversive stimuli; social-cognitive theory; long-term memory; complex learning and cognition; and motivation. An obvious resource for teachers of students of all ages and backgrounds, this book can be an interesting read for those involved in any facet of the learning process; as well as psychologists and therapists.

Genres: Education, Psychology, Nonfiction, Textbooks, Teaching

608 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Jeanne Ellis is Professor Emerita in UNC's School of Psychological Sciences & author of 'How We Think and Learn'

Reviews

[B · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some version of this appears over and over again throughout the book: "Cultures with a strong competitive element- as tends to be true in North American and some western European countries- may lead children to... And cultures that instill in children a fear of bringing shame to themselves or their families- as is sometimes true in Asian families- can lead children to..."

Ormrod is VERY COMFORTABLE invoking "North American culture" vs. "Asian culture" whenever she wants to illustrate cultural differences in regards to learning theories. I hope that in the next version of this book, she finds a way to avoid these generalizations.

[Bailey Marissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This textbook is pretty good for what it covers. At times it could be slow and dry, but it is informative.

Recommended 12+ for topics discussed.

Used with Liberty University Online's Psychology 365: Psychological Foundations of Learning.

[Ünal İpekçioğlu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a perfext book for who want to learn human learning.
I have readt the turkish tranlation by Nobel Publishing. And the book has 500 pages. Normally this book has about 600 pages. Please dont make ecanomical based publishers is rich , if you want to teach something. Publisher made this book , more complicated (by translation and by economical targets) and more unperceiveable.
Shortly this book has perfect content but when you buy this book , you have control the publisher.

[Kacxxia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're looking for a solid introduction to learning psychology, this book is a winner. It dives into various research studies and theories to explain the reasons behind different learning behaviors. Plus, there's a handy dose of advice for teachers at the end of each chapter.
Just keep in mind that the book mostly covers research up until 2012, as the field still keeps evolving. Overall, it's a great resource to get your feet wet in learning psychology.

[Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really appreciated Ormrod’s willingness and ability to make difficult concepts relatable through humor, often at the expense of personal family experiences. It really livened up my learning experience. I also found her delivery applicable to numerous classroom situations.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for a class.

[Julie Winkler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent study!

[Talbot Hook · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a fairly good textbook.

[Katrina Glaser · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a textbook. No one reads these for fun...

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I know it's a textbook... but this was a fascinating one! Although the cover and sheer volume of the book are a bit intimidating, the content is so interesting.

[reese · Rating 4 out of 5]

good and detailed text abt learning; some examples were a hit or miss though, still very western ofc

[Julie Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

used the kindle version for a class… it was set up well and easy enough to follow!

[Ellen Deckinga · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you like brain theories this is a great book. Extremely detailed. Yep, it's a textbook.

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is so much information in this book, and yet it all unfolds in manageable chunks and a logical sequence that makes it all so easy to understand. Ormrod explains the historical significance of different learning theories, the present states of those theories, and how contemporary neurological sciences and technologies continue to amend our understanding of the how the brain learns, stores, and recalls information. Then Ormrod applies each understanding to implications it can have for teachers, instruction, and students. Despite being a Pearson-published text, and the author does take a few digs at them when she can, Ormrod is honest in her critique of high-stakes testing, its usefulness, and their detrimental effects on cognitive processes. This will be a book I hold on to throughout my studies as a guide to refresh my own memory on human learning and brain development.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Favorite quotes:
"The mere recording of responses is often enough to alter the frequency of a behavior."
and
"People’s epistemological beliefs often change over time. For example, young children typically believe in the certainty of knowledge; they think that there is an absolute truth about any topic out there somewhere. As they reach the high school and college years, some (but by no means all) of them begin to realize that knowledge is a subjective entity and that different perspectives on a topic may be equally valid."

[Nada · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the course. Unlike other psychology books, it was concise and easy to comprehend. I would have given it a 5 if the author didn't reorganize the chapters in the new edition. I believe Punishment should have its own designated chapter.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad for a text book. The material is well-organized, and the writing is both clear and succinct. I appreciate the anecdotes that provide examples for the theory. Overall, I think this was a solid text for this subject.

[Adam Gutschenritter · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was an interesting book. It was a good read, Ormrod did a good job of making sure the material was presented in an entertaining way. Very informative, and something well worth the read if you are interested in learning how we gather information.

[Shola · Rating 3 out of 5]

quite an interesting textbook. well wrtten but i felt the cattle was placed before the horse concerning some chapters. I didnt enjoy the text book untill the end. will definately be selling this one back.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful survey textbook of psychological information about learning. Covered major schools: behaviorism, social-cognitive, and cognitive theories. Focuses heavily on application, which I loved. And for a textbook, a really interesting and engaging read.

[Enzo Silva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent review of learning theories from Behaviorism to Constructivism and everything in between.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very clear, very straightforward - cognitive psychology for the teacher with clear educational applications.

[Brendan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Informative but boring.

[Deanna Norris · Rating 3 out of 5]

As far as textbooks are concerned, this was a good one. The author did a wonderful job of covering the material while weaving in real-life examples that made it quite interesting.

[Will Mosher]

Seems like a very good and thorough overview (also, Ormrod writes in a very personable style, which doesn't happen often with textbooks but worked well for me.)

[S · Rating 3 out of 5]

(6th Ed.) Textbook for class. I didn't agree with everything in the book, and research was cited without considering correlation doesn't equal causation, but some of the information was useful.