Which psychologist expanded on Thorndike and Watson, emphasizing reinforcement and self-paced learning, and is associated with operant conditioning?

• A. John Dewey
• B. B.F. Skinner
• C. Thorndike
• D. Jean Piaget

Answer: (B)

Operant conditioning—learning shaped by the consequences of voluntary behavior. When a behavior is followed by reinforcement, it’s more likely to occur again; when it’s followed by punishment or no reinforcement, it tends to fade. This idea builds on Thorndike’s Law of Effect and the behavior-focused work of Watson, but it tools the concept into a formal theory of how actions are selected and strengthened through reinforcement.

Skinner expanded these ideas by emphasizing reinforcement and how it can be used to guide learning in self-paced settings. He showed that providing immediate, appropriate reinforcement for correct responses helps students stay on track, move through material at their own pace, and build complex skills through shaping and successive approximations. His work also introduced the idea of different reinforcement schedules and the practical use of teaching machines and programmed instruction to support autonomous, self-directed learning.

So, the psychologist associated with operant conditioning, who extended Thorndike and Watson and highlighted reinforcement and self-paced learning, is B.F. Skinner.