What type of conditioning associates a behavior with a consequence for the purpose of increasing or decreasing that behavior?

Operant conditioning is the correct answer since it specifically involves the association of a behavior with a consequence in order to increase or decrease that behavior. This form of learning is based on the principle that behaviors followed by positive outcomes are likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative outcomes are less likely to be repeated. For instance, if a student receives praise or a reward for completing their homework, they are more likely to continue the behavior of doing homework in the future.

In contrast, classical conditioning involves the association between an involuntary response and a stimulus, leading to a learned response to a previously neutral stimulus, without the direct reinforcement or punishment associated with operant conditioning. Observational learning refers to learning by watching others and modeling their behaviors, rather than through direct consequences for one’s own actions. Conditioned learning is not a standard term in psychology and is often confused with classical and operant conditioning. Thus, operant conditioning distinctly focuses on the relationship between behavior and its consequences, making it the correct choice.