What is a form of learning in which behavior is shaped by consequences such as positive and negative reinforcement?

Operant conditioning is the correct choice because it specifically involves learning where behaviors are influenced and shaped by their consequences. In this form of learning, behaviors that are followed by positive reinforcement are likely to be repeated, while those followed by negative reinforcement, or punishments, may decrease in frequency. This concept highlights how external factors can modify an individual's behavior over time, making it foundational in understanding behavior modification techniques used in various psychological and educational practices.

In contrast, classical conditioning focuses on the association between two stimuli and does not involve voluntary behavior shaped by consequences. Observational learning centers on learning by watching others and does not entail direct reinforcement. Cognitive learning encompasses a broader range of learning processes, including mental processes and insights, which do not primarily lean on behavior modification through consequences as seen in operant conditioning.