BEHAVIORISM/PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION

DESCRIPTION

1st Level of science understanding

Facts from observing behavior

Quantify/classify

For example, Collect ABC data

Prediction (correlation/covoration)

2nd level of scientific understanding

Description of events to make a hypothesis about function

1 event occurring when another event occurs

Ex: repeat abc observations

Control (causation)

3rd level of scientific understanding

Experimental test of prediction

IV manipulatingresults in Change of DV

Functional relationship/proof

Determinism -orderly/predictable, cause/,effect

Empiricism- observation/measurement (data) evidence/facts

Parsimony- simple established theory, fewest assumptions, explanations based on science

Pragmatism- practical positive outcomes

Meaningful and effective client treatment

Selectionism- behavior maintained by consequences, selevtion by consequences

Philosophical doubt-critcal/ skeptic , question the truth

8 philosophical assumptions of scientific behavior

Radical behaviorism

BF skinner founder

Public/private human behavior

radical -not just directly observable

Private events: thoughts, pain, feeling, ideas and sensations

Public: observable stimuli

4 branches of behavioral analysis

BEAP

Behaviorism -behavior explained by interactions w/ environment

Today’s behaviorism =skinner radical behaviorism

EAB- research conducted in labs , highly controlled settings

ABA- applied scientific, derived from EAB

Focus=socially significant behavior

PROF Practice - improve ppls lives

Behavior analytic service delivery

7 Dimensions of ABA

Behavioral

Applied

Technological

Conceptually systematic

Analytic

Generality

Effective

Behavioral- subject of interest is behavior target

Ex: clearly defined, measurable, observable behavior

Applied

Improve socially significant behaviors in applied settings

Ex: academic, social language, daily living self care

Technological

Procedures described clearly enough for replication

clearly written behavior plan

Conceptually systematic

Interventions are evidence based, on principles of behavior

Analytic

Decisions driven by Experimental control Functional relationship is shown, data based changes

ABC data to show function of behavior

Generality

Generalizations across settings, behaviors, and ppl

Effective

Practical/meaningful improvement

Significant improvement in a client’s life