Two years ago, the de Castellane Manufacturing Company included its employees in a profit-sharing plan in which workers receive semi-annual bonuses based on the company's profits. Since this plan was initiated, worker productivity at de Castellane has nearly doubled. This productivity increase is best explained in terms of.

Answer: Operant conditioning

Explanation: Operant conditioning or instrumental conditioning is a learning process through which reward or punishment changes the intensity of an action. It is also a termed as a practice used to making such learning take place.

Although both operative and classical conditioning involve environmental stimulus-controlled behaviors, they differ in essence. In operant conditioning, triggers tend to regulate this action when a behavior is rewarded or punished.

Hence profit sharing worked as an incentive for the employees within leading to high returns.