Final answer:
Returned information regarding the consequences of an event is referred to as feedback, a key element in operant conditioning, which determines the likelihood of future behavioral responses.
Step-by-step explanation:
Returned information regarding the consequences of an event is called feedback. In the context of operant conditioning, which is based on the work of B. F. Skinner, feedback plays a pivotal role. Operant conditioning is a type of learning where the motivation for a behavior is influenced by the consequences that follow the behavior. These consequences can be either reinforcers or punishers that increase or decrease the likelihood of the behavioral response, respectively.
For example, in operant conditioning, if a dog learns that sitting when commanded will result in receiving a treat, the treat serves as positive reinforcement. The dog's behavior of sitting is likely to increase because the feedback (the treat) is pleasant. This process is critical to understand how behaviors are acquired and modified through consequences.