A-philosophical Underpinnings Flashcards
Description
Accurately, describing observations that enhance the understanding of a phenomenon
P. 3
Prediction
A secondary level of scientific understanding that occurs when repeated observations of two events correlate
P. 3
Control
Highest level of scientific understanding, established through experimentation, confirming that manipulating one event results in a reliable change in the other event.
P. 4
Selectionism
Anything that evolves does so bc of the consequences of the behavior.
P. 33
(Behaviors are selected based on environmental factors)
There are 3 ways behaviors are selected (phylogenetic, ontogenetic, and cultural)
Phylogenic
Selection by natural EVOLUTION of species P. 33
Ontogenic
Selection due to interactions with the environment
P. 33
Selection by consequences (reinforcement and punishment)
Cultural
Behavior is passed from one person to the next (imitation/modeling)
Determinism
The universe is lawful and orderly. Things do not happen accidentally. Things happen for a reason.
Things occur as the result of other events.
P. 4
Ex. There is an explanation for a vase, falling off the shelf, even though no one was around.
Empiricism
Objective observation of events that are based on data not thoughts or feelings.
P. 4
Ex. Recording duration data to empirically determine the length of a behavior. 
Parsimony
The simplest and most logical explanation should always be considered first.
P. 6
Ex. There is a simple explanation for why your mom did not call you back last night. 
Pragmatism
Analyze outcomes and procedures based on results. Were the results useful or not? Intervention should produce meaningful outcomes and evaluated on those outcomes.
P. 12
Ex. Treatment plan should be databased and individualized. Don’t just use what worked in the past evaluate intervention based on the client.
Methodological Behaviorism
Does not consider private events in the analysis of behavior.
P. 13
Radical Behaviorism
Considers both private and public events when analyzing behavior.
P. 13
Circular reasoning
Attempts to use the cause to explain the effect and the effect to circle back to the cause.
Ex.  John can’t read because of his learning disability. Because of John’s learning disability, he can’t read.
Hypothetical construct/explanatory fictions
A possibly existing but at the moment an unobserved processor entity (ex. Feelings)
P. 12
Behaviorism
The philosophy of behavior. There is an explanation for behavior as results of interactions between individuals and the environment.
P. 7
Ex. The client didn’t tantrum because they were “mad”. The tantrum was a result of environmental/individual interaction
 experimental analysis of behavior (EAB)
The study of behavior principles to be later used outside of the experimental setting. Not applied research.
P. 11
Ex. You work a lot with rats you do operant behavior research on the rats, but don’t apply the research outside of the lab.
applied behavior analysis (ABA)
Applying behavior principles in offices, clinics schools on human subjects.
P. 14
Ex. You are studying the facts of punishment on your RBTs
Ex. Examined effects of extinction on your client screaming
Practice guided by behavior analysis
The interventions that result from behaviorism, EAB, and ABA Intervention.
Ex. The actual intervention used in the real world. (What RBTs do)
Applied
Applying changes that are positive and socially significant in a persons life.
P. 16
Ex. Someone learns to dress themselves.
GET A CAB
Generality
Effective
Technological
Applied
Conceptually systematic
Analytic
Behavioral
Analytic
A functional relationship is demonstrated between the environmental change (intervention) and the behavior.
P. 16
Ex. Your DRA intervention controls the current and non-occurrence of certain behaviors.
Behavioral
Behavior must be observable and measurable.
P. 16
Conceptually systematic
Intervention should be consistent with behavior principles
P. 17
Ex. You want to teach your child how to imitate. Design your intervention so that it is consistent with basic behavior principles.
