Skinner box

scientific apparatus

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Last updated

July 13, 2026

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A Skinner box is a laboratory apparatus used in experiments on operant conditioning. Developed by psychologist B.F. Skinner, this cage-like device allows researchers to study how animals learn through rewards and punishments. Typically, an animal inside the box must perform a specific action, such as pressing a lever, to receive a reward or avoid a negative consequence. This method helps scientists observe and understand how environmental stimuli influence behavior. The Skinner box has been instrumental in advancing the field of behaviorism and has found applications in pharmaceutical research and animal training.1234

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B.F. Skinner
…of his best-known inventions, the Skinner box, has been adopted in pharmaceutical research for observing how drugs may modify animal behaviour.
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…of his best-known inventions, the Skinner box, has been adopted in pharmaceutical research for observing how drugs may modify animal behaviour.
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animal learning
Classical and instrumental conditioning
Subsequently, the “Skinner box” was adapted for use with pigeons, who were required to peck at a small, illuminated disk on one wall of the box in order to obtain some grain.
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Subsequently, the “Skinner box” was adapted for use with pigeons, who were required to peck at a small, illuminated disk on one wall of the box in order to obtain some grain.
Read More