Linear Style of Programming Developed by B.F. Skinner

The question asks to identify the individual who developed the linear style of programming. This style is a fundamental concept in the history of programmed instruction and educational technology.

Understanding B.F. Skinner's Contribution

B.F. Skinner, a renowned psychologist and behaviorist, is widely credited with developing the principles that underpin the linear style of programming. His work focused on operant conditioning, which involves learning through reinforcement.

In the context of programmed instruction, Skinner proposed that:

• Learning material should be broken down into small, sequential steps (frames).
• Learners should actively respond to each step.
• Immediate feedback (reinforcement) should be provided after each response.
• The sequence of steps should be logical and linear, ensuring the learner masters each concept before moving to the next.

Skinner's teaching machines, designed in the 1950s, embodied this linear style of programming, presenting information in a step-by-step sequence where all students followed the same path.

Evaluating Other Options

While other figures mentioned made significant contributions to psychology and education, their primary work isn't directly associated with the *development* of the linear style of programming itself:

• Crowder: Norman Crowder developed "scrambled sequences" or branched programming, which offered different paths based on learner responses, contrasting with the purely linear approach.
• Thorndike: Edward Thorndike developed the Law of Effect, a precursor to behaviorism, but not specifically the linear programming model.
• Pressey: Sidney Pressey invented early self-scoring educational devices (teaching machines) but Skinner refined and popularized the programming principles associated with linear instruction.

Therefore, B.F. Skinner is the correct answer as the originator of the principles behind the linear style of programming.