A - Philosophical Underpinnings

Question 1

Identify the goals of behavior analysis as a science.

Answer 1

Description
Prediction
Control

Question 2

Explain the Philosophical Assumptions

Answer 2

Selectionism, Determinism, Empiricism, Parsimony, Pragmatism, Philosophical Doubt-

Question 3

Selectionism

Answer 3

Behaviors are selected based on environmental factors
3 Types: Phylogenic, Ontogenic, Cultural

Question 4

Phylogenic

Answer 4

Selection by natural evolution

Question 5

Ontogentic

Answer 5

Selection due to interaction with enviornment

Question 6

Cultural

Answer 6

Behavior is passed from one person to the next (imitation/modeling)

Question 7

Determinism

Answer 7

The universe is lawful and orderly. Things do not happen accidentally. Things happen for a reason.
Ex. There is an explanation for a vase falling off the shelf even though no one as around

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

Objective observation of events that are based on data, not thoughts or feelings

Question 9

Parsimony

Answer 9

The simplest and most logical explanations should always be considered first

Question 10

Pragmatism

Answer 10

Analyze outcomes and procedures based on results. Where the results useful or not? Interventions should produce meaningful outcomes, and evaluated on those
outcomes.

Question 11

Philosophical Doubt

Answer 11

Question established outcomes and results. Question everything while looking for better explanations whenever possible

Question 12

Mentalism

Answer 12

Include Hypothetical constructs, explanatory fiction, and circular reasoning

Question 13

Hypothetical Constructs

Answer 13

The unobserved process that is said to be present

Question 14

Explanatory Fiction

Answer 14

The fictional variable used to explain behavior
“He was tired today, so he could not complete his work.”

Question 15

Circular Reasoning

Answer 15

Faulty logic. The effect is the cause, and the cause is the effect “He misbehaves because of autism. He has autism so he misbehaves”

Question 16

Behaviorism

Answer 16

Guiding philosophy of behavior science. There is an explanation for behavior as a result of interactions between individuals and the environment
Ex. The client didn’t tantrum because they were “mad.” The tantrum was a result of Environmental/individual interaction

Question 17

Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)

Answer 17

The study of behavior principals to be later used
outside of the experimental setting. Not applied research.
Ex. You work in a lab with rats. You do operant behavior research on the rats, but don’t apply that research outside of your lab.

Question 18

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Answer 18

Applying behavior principles to research in offices, clinics,
schools, etc. on human subjects
Ex. You examine the effects of extinction on your client’s screaming

Question 19

Practice Guided by Behavior Analysis

Answer 19

The interventions that result from behaviorism, EAB,
and ABA
Ex. The actual interventions used in the real world

Question 20

7 Dimensions of Applied Behavior Analysis

Answer 20

Behavioral
Applied
Technological
Conceptually Systematic
Analytic
Generality
Effective

Question 21

Applied

Answer 21

Changes are positive and socially significant in the person’s life. Change is meaningful.
Ex. Someone learns to dress themselves

Question 22

Analytical

Answer 22

A functional relation is demonstrated between what is changed in the environment and the behavior we want to change. Are we controlling the behavior?

Question 23

Behavioral

Answer 23

Behavior must be observable and measurable.

Question 24

Conceptually Systematic

Answer 24

Interventions should be consistent with behavioral principles

Question 25

Effective

Answer 25

There must be a significant and socially important level of change to the behavior
Ex. You increase your client’s ability to dress themselves to the point where they can do
it fully independently

Question 26

Generality

Answer 26

The target behavior should change not only in the learning environment but outside of the learning environment as well

Question 27

Technological

Answer 27

An intervention should be replicable by anyone who reads the intervention