Definition and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis (Chapter 1)

Question 1

A systematic approach for seeking and organizing knowledge about the natural world.

Answer 1

Science

Question 2

This exists when a well controlled experiment demonstrates that a specific change in one event (the dependent variable) is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event (the independent variable)

• The primary products of basic and applied research in behavior analysis
• Provide the kind of scientific understanding that is most valuable and useful to the development of a technology for changing behavior

Answer 2

Functional relation(ship(s))

Question 3

The assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which phenomena occur in relation to other events and not in a willy-nilly, accidental fashion.

Answer 3

Determinism

Question 4

The practice of objective observation and measurement of the phenomena of interest

• Objective observation: independent of individual prejudices, tastes, and private opinions of the scientist

Answer 4

Empiricism

Question 5

A controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (the dependent variable) under two or more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (the independent variable) differs from one condition to another

Answer 5

Experiment

Question 6

Demonstration of functional relations between environmental variables and behavior.

Answer 6

Functional analysis

Question 7

Repeating whole experiments to determine the generality of findings of previous experiments to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors

Answer 7

Replication

Question 8

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

Answer 8

Parsimony

Question 9

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

Answer 9

Philosophic doubt

Question 10

The philosophy of the science of behavior. There are various forms:

• methodological
• radical

Answer 10

Behaviorism

Question 11

Presumed but unobserved entities that could not be manipulated in an experiment

Answer 11

Hypothetical constructs

Question 12

A natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in it’s own right founded by B.F. Skinner.

Emphasis on describing functional relations between behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory testing

Answer 12

Experimental analysis of behavior (EAB)

Question 13

An approach to the study of behavior that assumes mental or “inner” dimension exists that is differs from a behavioral dimension.

Answer 13

Mentalism

Question 14

A fictitious variable that often is simply another name for the observed behavior that contributes nothing to an understanding of the variables maintaining the behavior.

Answer 14

Explanatory fiction

Question 15

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

The primary criterion for which behavior analysts judge the value of their findings.

Answer 15

Pragmatism

Question 16

A philosophical position that views behavioral events that cannot be publicly observed as outside the realm of science.

Answer 16

Methodological behaviorism

Question 17

A form of behaviorism that attempts to understand all human behavior, including private events, such as thoughts and feelings, in terms of controlling variables in the history of the person (ontogeny) and the species (phylogeny).

Answer 17

Radical behaviorism

Question 18

The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change.

Answer 18

Applied Behavioral Analysis

Question 19

What are the characteristics of applied behavior analysis?

(7)

Answer 19

1. Applied
2. Behavioral
3. Analytic
4. Technological
5. Conceptually systematic
6. Effective
7. Generality