Who is best known for researching operant conditioning?

B.F. Skinner is best known for his research on operant conditioning, which is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology. Operant conditioning refers to a learning process in which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. Skinner developed the Skinner Box, an experimental setup that allowed him to study how animals, particularly rats and pigeons, learn to associate their actions with consequences. Through systematic experimentation, Skinner demonstrated how behaviors can be shaped and maintained through rewards or consequences, establishing key principles that continue to influence behavior modification techniques today.

In contrast, Ivan Pavlov is renowned for his work on classical conditioning, a different form of learning where an association is formed between a stimulus and a response. Albert Bandura is famous for his research on social learning theory, which emphasizes the role of observation and imitation in learning. John Watson is recognized for founding behaviorism and promoting the study of observable behaviors, but he did not specifically focus on operant conditioning as Skinner did. Thus, Skinner's contributions laid the foundational understanding of operant conditioning that remains integral to psychological studies and applications.