Who is primarily associated with the study of operant conditioning?

The study of operant conditioning is primarily associated with B.F. Skinner, who developed fundamental concepts in this area. Operant conditioning refers to a learning process through which the strength of a behavior is modified by reinforcement or punishment. Skinner conducted experiments using devices known as Skinner boxes, where he demonstrated how rewards could encourage a behavior and how punishments could deter it. His work emphasized the importance of consequences in shaping behavior, leading to the principles of reinforcement schedules and behavioral modification techniques that are widely used in education and therapy today. This association with systematic experimentation and the development of the concept of reinforcement solidifies Skinner's role as a key figure in the study of operant conditioning.