Which of the following experiments involves the use of operant conditioning?

• A. Ivan Pavlov's experiment with dogs salivating to the sound of a bell
• B. John Watson's Little Albert experiment pairing a loud noise with a white rat
• C. Albert Bandura's Bobo doll experiment observing children imitating aggression
• D. B.F. Skinner's box experiment with rats pressing a lever to receive food

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the concept of operant conditioning, which is a learning process where behavior is influenced by consequences such as rewards or punishments.
2. Step 2: Identify the key feature of operant conditioning: the subject's behavior is actively shaped by reinforcement or punishment following the behavior.
3. Step 3: Review each experiment to see if it involves behavior being modified by consequences. Pavlov's experiment involves classical conditioning, where a neutral stimulus is paired with an unconditioned stimulus to elicit a response.
4. Step 4: Watson's Little Albert experiment also involves classical conditioning, pairing a neutral stimulus (white rat) with an aversive stimulus (loud noise) to create a fear response.
5. Step 5: Bandura's Bobo doll experiment focuses on observational learning, where children imitate aggressive behavior without direct reinforcement or punishment, unlike operant conditioning.