Final answer:
The correct answer is Operant Conditioning because it involves an animal learning to associate a voluntary behavior like pecking with a positive consequence like receiving food, which is the principle demonstrated with the pigeon scenario. b) Operant Conditioning
Step-by-step explanation:
The impact of operant conditioning on learning is exemplified in the scenario where it is easier to teach a pigeon to peck a disk for food rather than to flap its wings. Operant conditioning involves learning to associate a voluntary behavior with its consequences, which is demonstrated by the fact that the pigeon learns to peck the disk to receive a food reward.
The correct answer to this question is a) Operant Conditioning. This form of learning is distinct from classical conditioning, where an involuntary response becomes associated with a new stimulus, and from observational learning, where behavior is learned by observing others.
B.F. Skinner, a major proponent of operant conditioning, conducted experiments that revealed how behaviors could be shaped by rewards and punishments, such as food or avoidance of an unpleasant stimulus. This is a cornerstone of animal training and illustrates how behaviors not normally performed in the wild can be conditioned through reinforcement or punishment.