Final answer:
In Edward Thorndike's puzzle box experiments with cats, after receiving a reward for escaping, the cats gradually learned to escape more quickly, demonstrating the Law of Effect in cognitive learning.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question you've asked about is related to the cognitive learning principles found in the experiments conducted by Edward Thorndike with cats. In these puzzle box experiments, the cats would be rewarded with a treat upon escaping. With each success and subsequent reward, the cats learned to escape the puzzle box more efficiently. This learning process illustrates the Law of Effect, which states that behaviors followed by satisfying consequences tend to be repeated and those that produce unpleasant consequences are less likely to be repeated.
Analyses of similar experiments conducted by other researchers such as H.C. Blodgett with rats in maze studies also support this finding. The rats demonstrated faster learning and improved maze performance once rewards were introduced. This aligns with Thorndike's observations showing that animals, including cats, gradually learned to escape more quickly after receiving a reward, indicating that cognitive learning is not unique to humans.