Who is Edward Thorndike and what is his contribution to educational psychology?

Edward Thorndike was a pioneering educational psychologist who is best known for his work in establishing the laws of learning and introducing the concept of connectionism. His research focused on how connections are formed between stimuli and responses, leading to learning through associations. Thorndike's experiments with animals, particularly cats in puzzle boxes, provided empirical evidence that learning is a process of trial and error, which he encapsulated in his famous "Law of Effect." This law states that behaviors that produce satisfying outcomes will be repeated, while behaviors that lead to discomfort or non-reward will be avoided.

His emphasis on the importance of observable behavior and the scientific study of learning processes laid foundational principles for behaviorism in psychology. Additionally, Thorndike's work influenced educational practices by underlining the importance of applying psychological principles to improve teaching methods and learning outcomes, which is critical in the realm of educational psychology.