What kind of learning occurs when a student observes the consequences of another's behavior and decides whether to imitate it?

Study for the CLEP Intro to Educational Psychology Test. Access flashcards and multiple-choice questions with detailed hints and explanations. Prepare for your exam with confidence!

The correct answer is Observational Learning. This term specifically refers to the process by which an individual learns by observing the actions of others and the outcomes of those actions. This kind of learning emphasizes the role of social interaction and the influence of role models in the learning process.

In the context of the question, a student who watches another person engage in a behavior and then considers the consequences—whether they are positive or negative—before deciding to imitate that behavior exemplifies observational learning. This aligns with the principles laid out by social learning theorists, particularly Albert Bandura, who highlighted that people can learn new behaviors by observing others rather than through direct experience alone.

The other options do not encapsulate the concept as effectively. For example, direct modeling refers more to the act of demonstrating specific behaviors to promote learning, while vicarious learning tends to suggest learning from watching the experiences of others, which is somewhat related but lacks the specific emphasis on the active decision-making process involved in observational learning. Observed learning is not a widely recognized term in educational psychology in comparison to the clearly defined concept of observational learning. Thus, Observational Learning is the most accurate and encompassing term for this learning process.

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