Final answer:
Latent learning is a type of cognitive learning where knowledge is acquired without immediate reinforcement and only becomes evident when there is a need to use it, as demonstrated by Edward C. Tolman's experiments.
Step-by-step explanation:
Latent learning refers to knowledge that is acquired without a direct intention to learn it and without immediate reinforcement, but which manifests later when there is a need or an opportunity to use it. This type of learning is considered a form of cognitive learning, as it indicates that there is internal processing of information that may not be immediately observable through behavior. An example of latent learning is when a child learns the route to school by passively observing while being driven by a parent, and later uses this knowledge to reach school by themselves when required.
The experiments conducted by Edward C. Tolman with rats demonstrated the concept of latent learning, suggesting that organisms can learn even without immediate reinforcement, thereby challenging the behaviorist notion that reinforcement must be immediate for learning to take place. This aspect of learning indicates the involvement of cognitive processes, as it implies an internal comprehension and storage of information that is not immediately reflected in behavior.
Latent learning differs from classical conditioning and operant conditioning, which are both forms of associative learning where associations are made between events that occur together. Unlike these types of learning, latent learning does not require an obvious reward or reinforcement at the time the learning occurs.