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BOUTON, MARK E. (2007). Learning and behavior: A contemporary synthesis. Sunderland, MA. Sinauer. Pp. vii + 482. ISBN-13: 978-0-87893-063-0 (hard cover). $94.95
This excellent textbook is directed at an advanced undergraduate or first-year graduate course. It is organized a bit differently from most learning texts, in part because it attempts to integrate the large body of research within a contemporary framework that includes the evolutionary basis of behavior (e.g., conditioning and behavioral systems) and the contribution of cognitive processes (e.g., cognitive maps and search images). Bouton does not oversimplify the complex determinants of learning but presents them in a clear, readable form. His writing style is relaxed and un-self-conscious. He seems aware of the difficulty in understanding sections that address complex issues and provides additional descriptions of those topics to clarify them.
The complexity of research in the field of contemporary learning makes the author's task daunting. His effort to be complete and not cut comers is admirable. However, as I progressed through the book and put myself in the place of the typical undergraduate, I found the book's thoroughness difficult to integrate into a manageable whole. To his credit, however, Bouton includes summaries at the end of each chapter...