A-2 Philosophical Assumptions of Behavior Analysis

Question 1

Philosophical Assumptions/Attitudes of ABA

Answer 1

Skinner = Selectionism
Defined = Determinism
Every = Empiricism
Part = Parsimony
Perfectly = Pragmatism

Question 2

Selectionism

Answer 2

A Darwinian explanation of how organisms have evolved

A theory that all forms of life naturally and continually evolve as a result of interaction between function and the survival value of that function

Question 3

Determinism

Answer 3

Lawfulness of behavior

The assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which phenomena occur in relation to other events

Question 4

Empiricism

Answer 4

The practice of objective observation of the phenomena (behavior) of interest

Question 5

Parsimony

Answer 5

The practice of ruling out simple, logical explanations, (experimentally or conceptually) before considering more complex or abstract explanations

Question 6

Pragmatism

Answer 6

Practical, not idealistic

Seeking reasonable and functional outcomes that matter

A philosophical position asserting that the truth value of a statement is determined by how well it promotes effective action

Question 7

Experimentation

Answer 7

Controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (DV) under two or more different condition in which only one factor at a time (IV) differs from one condition to another

Basic strategy in most sciences

Question 8

Replication

Answer 8

Repeating experiments to determine the reliability and validity

Question 9

Philosophic Doubt

Answer 9

An attitude that the truthfulness and validity of all scientific theory and knowledge should be continually questioned