Final answer:
Barnabus the rat could learn complex behaviors through operant conditioning as demonstrated by B.F. Skinner or cognitive learning as shown in H.C. Blodgett's maze experiments. These studies reveal animals' ability to create cognitive maps and modify behavior through consequences.
Step-by-step explanation:
Barnabus the rat, like other animals, can learn a complex series of behaviors through different forms of learning. One such form is operant conditioning, where behaviors are modified by consequences. This method was studied extensively by B.F. Skinner, used it to teach rats to press levers for food rewards. However, another type of learning is cognitive learning, demonstrated by H.C. Blodgett's maze experiments with rats, establishing that they could create mental representations or cognitive maps, not merely respond to conditioned stimuli. Understanding these learning processes provides insight into the cognitive abilities of animals and the mechanisms underlying their behaviors. In Skinner's experiments, shaping was used to teach animals complex behaviors by reinforcing successive approximations of the desired behavior. This technique was not only applied to simple tasks but to more entertaining ones as well, demonstrating the flexibility and potential of operant conditioning.
The complete question is:
Barnabus the rat learned a complex series of behaviors, including climbing a staircase, pulling a toy car, wriggling through a tube, and then pressing a lever, to receive a food pellet. This complex series of behaviors was learned through
a. Negative reinforcement.
b. Response chaining.
c. Programmed instruction.
d. The use of punishment.