LEARNING (Trial and error)
| Collection | International Encyclopedia of Systems and Cybernetics |
|---|---|
| Year | 2004 |
| Vol. (num.) | 2(1) |
| ID | ◀ 1896 ▶ |
| Object type | General information |
This expression was coined by L. MORGAN in England and E.L. THORNDIKE in the United States.
W.R. ASHBY observes: “The process of trial and error can then be viewed from two very different points of view. On the one hand it can be regarded as simply an attempt at success; so that when it fails, we give zero mark for success. From this point of view it is merely a second rate way of getting to success. There is, however, the other point of view that gives it an altogether higher status, for the process may be playing the invaluable part of gathering information, information that is absolutely necessary if adaptation is to be successfully achieved” (1960, p.83).
The result of every trial is:
1. recorded in the memory of the system
2. integrated in a non-contradictory structure of internally organized information i.e. knowledge
3. also possibly integrated into a repertory of automatic responses or skills.
Each trial modifies the internal state of the system and predisposes it to a better adapted future activity, even if some cases some trials (followed by good or negative results) must be repeated several times.
ASHBY's own Law of Requisite Variety is obviously an elaboration on the usefulness for a system to enrich its repertories of possible states or responses to variations in its environment.
Learning by trial and error, as an internal ordering process, is also related to the model of order from noise.