BCBA 6th edition study guide (A-D)

Description

Facts about the event or behavior that are OBSERVABLE and EXAMINABLE

= statements of facts

Prediction

Repeated observations show two events correlate with each other. Suggests possible causal relations but NO FX relationship = no variables manipulated

=hypothesizing

Control

Highest level of understanding. Functional relationship between independent and dependent variables

=experimenting

Independent variable (IV)

What is being tested = intervention, techniques, procedure

• can be manipulated by experimenter

• ex: “Adjusting schedule in reinforcement (IV) to encourage task attendance”

Dependent variable (DV)

RESULTS/outcomes = measurement of response or observed influenced by the IV

• ex: ““Adjusting schedule in reinforcement to encourage task attendance (DV)”

Selectionism

Behaviors are selected (kept/eliminated") based on environmental factors

ex: “natural selection”, “human evolution”
types:

• phylogenic

• ontogenic

  • cultural

Phylogenic selectionism

Selection by natural evolution of species (biological/nature)

Ontogenic selectionism

Selection due to interaction within environment (nuture)

Cultural selectionism

Selection of behaviors passed from generation to next (imitation/modeling)

Determinism

Universe is lawful and orderly. Things don’t happen accidentally, there is a reason = always an explanation

Empiricism

Objective observation of events based on data

• no feelings or inner thoughts

• ex: operational definitions

Parsimony

Simplest and most logical explanations always considered first

Pragmatism

Analyze outcomes and procedures based on evidence-based results = produce meaningful outcomes

Philosophical doubt

Question established findings, results, outcomes = looking for better explanations whenever possible

Radical behaviorism

A form of behaviorism that attempts to understand all human behavior, including private events (I.e., thoughts and feelings)

• created by Skinner

Mentalism

Approach that believes internal mental state (thoughts, characteristics, feelings) causes behaviors

• hypothetical construct

• explanatory fiction

• circular reasoning

Hypothetical construct

Presumed but unobserved process or entity that’s believed present to explain behavior

Explanatory fiction

Fictional variable used to explain behavior

Circular reasoning

Faulty logic. The effect is the cause and the cause is the effect

• “He misbehaves because of Autism. He has autism so he misbehaves”

Experimentation

Manipulation of IV to demonstrate consistent change in DV

ex: The teacher noticed his student pays attention to his lesson when seated at the front instead at the back of the class. He decided to permanently seat his student at the front of the class.

Replication

repetition of experiments to determine reliability, utility, and integrity of science