Edward Thorndike is best known for discovering which concept?

Edward Thorndike is renowned for formulating the law of effect, which is a fundamental concept in behavioral psychology. The law of effect states that responses followed by satisfying outcomes are more likely to be repeated in similar situations, while those followed by unpleasant outcomes are less likely to recur. This idea laid the groundwork for later theories of learning and behavior, highlighting the importance of consequences in shaping actions.

The law of effect is distinct from other concepts like classical conditioning, which is primarily associated with Ivan Pavlov and involves learning through association between stimuli, and operant conditioning, which is linked to B.F. Skinner, focusing on reinforcing or punishing behaviors. While the principle of reinforcement is a vital element of operant conditioning, it is not directly attributed to Thorndike’s findings. Thus, the law of effect is rightly attributed to Thorndike, making it the correct answer.