Unit 1 terms

Question 1

Applied Behavior Analysis

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Behavior

Answer 2

The activity of living organisms, or what a person does and says

Question 3

Behaviorism

Answer 3

The philosophy of a science of behavior

Question 4

Controlling variable

Answer 4

The environmental events (antecedents and consequences) that influence the probability of a particular behavior

Question 5

Covert Behavior

Answer 5

Behavior that is not observable to others

Question 6

Determinism

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Discriminated operant

Answer 7

An operant that occurs more frequently under some antecedent conditions than others.

Question 8

Empiricism

Answer 8

The objective observation of the phenomena of interest

Question 9

Environment

Answer 9

The conglomerate of real circumstances in which the organism of referred part of an organism exists.

Question 10

Environmental variables

Answer 10

Variables that are relevant to describing the stimulus environment. These can include people and items present.

Question 11

Experiment

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Experimental analysis of behavior

Answer 12

A natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in its own right founded by B.F. Skinner. Its methodological features include rate of response as a basic dependent variable, repeated or continuous measurement of clearly defined response classes, within-subject experimental comparisons instead of group design visual analysis of graphed data instead of statistical inference, and an emphasis on describing functional relations between behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory testing.

Question 13

Explanatory fiction

Answer 13

A hypothetical variable that often takes the form of another name for the observed phenomenon it claims to explain and contributes nothing to a functional account or understanding of the phenomenon.

Question 14

Hypothetical construct

Answer 14

A presumed but unobserved process or entity.

Question 15

Mentalism

Answer 15

An approach to explaining behavior that assumes that an “inner” dimension exists that differs from a behavioral dimension, and that phenomenon in this dimension either directly cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior.

Question 16

Methodological behaviorism

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Ontogeny

Answer 17

The history of the development of an individual during its lifetime.

Question 18

Operant conditioning

Answer 18

Occurs when a behavior in a particular situation is followed by a reinforcing consequence, thus making the behavior more likely to occur in similar circumstances in the future.

Question 19

Parsimony

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Philosophical doubt

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Phylogeny

Answer 21

The history of the natural evolution of a species.

Question 22

Pragmatism

Answer 22

Inductive reasoning that draws general rules based on specific observation. It is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations and seems to often go hand in hand with behaviorism.

Question 23

Prediction

Answer 23

A statement of the anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement.

Question 24

Radical behaviorism

Answer 24

A thoroughgoing 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 and species.

Question 25

Science

Answer 25

A systematic approach to the understanding of natural phenomena that relies on determinism as its fundamental assumption, empiricism as its primary rule, experimentation as its basic strategy, replication as a requirement for believability, parsimony as a value, and philosophical doubt as its guiding conscience.

Question 26

Selectionism

Answer 26

The principle that all forms of life, from single cells to complex cultures, evolve as a result of selection with respect to function.

Question 27

Stimulus-response psychology

Answer 27

An approach to psychology focused on the relationship between stimuli and responses and the objective study of behavior, also known as Watsonian behaviorism.