Unit 2 Flashcards
Goals of science …
Are …
Prediction
And
Control
Natural science consists of …
1) empirical phenomena
2) direct observation and measurement of
3) phenomena or its permanent products
Types of natural science include …
1) physics
2) chemistry
3) biology
4) behavior analysis
Social science deals with …
1) hypothetical constructs outside the natural realm
2) indirect observation and measurement
6 Philosophical assumptions of science
1) determinism
2) empiricism
3) parsimony
4) philosophical doubt
5) pragmatism
6) experimentation
Determinism
Philosophical assumption of science
The universe is a lawful and orderly place
Empiricism
Philosophical assumption of science
Objective observation
With thorough description
And quantification
Of the phenomena of interest (behavior)
Experimentation
Philosophical assumption of science
Systematic manipulation
Of an independent variable
Replication
Philosophical assumption of science
Repeating ANY part of an experiment
Parsimony
Philosophical assumption of science
Requires that all simple, logical explanations for the phenomena of interest be ruled out experimentally BEFORE more complex or abstract explanations are considered.
Philosophical doubt
Philosophical assumption of science
Continually question the truthfulness of
what is regarded as fact
Pragmatism
Philosophical assumption of science
Assesses the truth of theories or beliefs
in terms of the success
of their practical application
Behaviorism
The philosophy or worldview
underlying behavior analysis.
Posits that behavior
is the subject matter of our science
Radical behaviorism
BF Skinner’s philosophy of the science of human behavior.
Most influential type of behaviorism for
guiding the science and practice of behavior analysis
Determinants of behavior
Causes of behavior
probabilistic
Selection
The process in which
repeated cycles occur of
variation,
interaction with the environment and
differential replication
as a function of the interaction
Natural selection
The environment selects
which variations survive and are passed on
Cultural selection
Cultural practices evolve
as they contribute to the success
of the practicing group
Temporal contiguity
The nearness of events in time
Contingency
A dependency between events
Types of contingencies
Pairing
Consequence
Signaling
Basic operations
Direct observation
Repeated measures
Graph data
Manipulation
Systematic evaluation
Analysis and interpretation
Consequential operation [+]
Contingently present
the stimulus
immediately after the response
Consequential operation [-]
Contingently remove
the stimulus
immediately after the response
Learning
A relatively permanent change
in behavior
as a result of experience
Science is …
… a systematic approach for
seeking and organizing knowledge
about the natural world
