_____ was one of the first researchers to look at the laws involved in learning voluntary responses.

• A. Ivan Pavlov
• B. B. F. Skinner
• C. John Watson
• D. Edward Thorndike

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Begin by understanding the context of the question, which is about the history of psychology and the study of learning.
2. Identify the key term 'voluntary responses' which refers to behaviors that are controlled by the individual, as opposed to involuntary or reflexive responses.
3. Recall that Edward Thorndike is known for his work on the 'Law of Effect,' which is a principle that suggests behaviors followed by satisfying consequences are more likely to be repeated.
4. Recognize that Thorndike's research involved studying how animals learn to perform tasks to receive rewards, which laid the groundwork for later theories of operant conditioning.
5. Conclude that Edward Thorndike was indeed one of the first researchers to systematically study the laws of learning voluntary responses, distinguishing his work from that of Pavlov, Skinner, and Watson, who focused on different aspects of learning and behavior.