Who founded the experimental analysis of behavior?

The experimental analysis of behavior was founded by B.F. Skinner, who is renowned for his significant contributions to the study of behavior and learning through operant conditioning. Skinner's work emphasized the importance of understanding behavior in terms of the effects of consequences on the likelihood of that behavior being repeated in the future. He developed various methodologies for examining the relationship between behavior and environmental variables, utilizing devices such as the Skinner box to conduct rigorous experimental analyses.

Skinner's approach distinguished itself from those of other psychologists by focusing not on internal states or hypothetical constructs but on observable behavior and the principles governing it. This laid the groundwork for applied behavior analysis, which looks to apply these principles to real-world situations, particularly in educational and therapeutic settings.