The person responsible for the study: BF Skinner 

Background information: BF Skinner was a behavioral scientist who worked on experiments relating to observable behaviors rather than mental states. This experiment, in particular, aimed to understand how animals, and ultimately humans, could learn behaviors that could be shaped through reinforcement. 

Methodology: Using a "Skinner Box," a controlled environment in which pigeons were trained to perform specific tasks, Skinner rewarded them every time they performed a particular behavior.  Skinner intentionally manipulated their reward schedules and other aspects of the experiment to determine what changes would happen. 

Results: The pigeons repeated the behaviors for which they were rewarded by food and other traits. As a result, Skinner modeled how behavior could be influenced and even manipulated through the scheduled implementation of reinforcement. 

Significance of results/legacy/recent relevance: Skinner's work set the much-needed foundation for modern research fields such as operant conditioning 

How to improve the experiment: This study could be improved by instituting rewards other than food to determine how that variation would influence results. Additionally, this study could involve a greater variety of tasks, which would help determine if rewards are consistent in their ability to influence, regardless of the task at hand.