Robert Slavin is an educational researcher known for his Theory of Cooperative or Collaborative Learning which argues that students learn best when they work together in small groups to help each other succeed. His theory emphasizes positive interdependence among students, face-to-face interaction, and individual accountability in order to motivate greater effort, build positive relationships, and improve psychological well-being. Slavin developed this theory during his work as a researcher at Johns Hopkins University's Center for Research on Elementary and Middle Schools.