Learning Principles and Behavioral Analysis

Attitudes of Science

Determinism, Empiricism, Experimentation, Replication, Parsimony, Philosophic doubt

Determinism

attitude of science, universe is a lawful, orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events

Empiricism

attitude of science, practice of objective observation – based on thorough description, systematic/repeated measurement, precise quantification

Experimentation

attitude of science to investigate possible existence of functional relation; carefully conducted comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest under 2+ diff conditions in which only one factor differs from one condition to another

Replication

attitude of science, needs to happen with same pattern of results to be convinced of findings → primary method to determine reliability/usefulness of findings

Parsimony

attitude of science, requires all simple, logical explanations for the phenomenon be ruled out (experimentally or conceptually) before complex/abstract explanations are considered

— Choose simplest explanation w fewest assumptions

— Fit findings within knowledge base

Philosophic Doubt

attitude of science, continually question truthfulness of what is regarded as fact, skepticism

7 Dimensions of ABA

Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually systematic, Effective, Generalized outcomes

Applied

Dimensions of ABA, improvements in behaviors that enhance/improve lives (need to choose significant behaviors to change)

Behavioral

Dimensions of ABA, Must choose THE behavior in need of improvement + conduct studies OF behavior (observe, measure) + behavior = measurable + ask whose behavior has changed (observer vs experimenter vs subject)

Analytic

Dimensions of ABA, achieved once has demonstrated functional relation btw manipulated events and reliable change in a measurable dimension

— Need control over occurrence of behavior

— Not theorizing how behavior CAN work → describing how it HAS worked

Technological

Dimensions of ABA, procedures are identified/described w detail/clarity + allows for replication (esp w interventions)

Conceptually Systematic

Dimensions of ABA, procedures for changing behavior + interpretations of how/why those procedures were effective should be described in terms of the relevant principles from which they were derived

— Consumers can derive similar procedures AND conceptual systems = need if a technology is to become an integrated discipline

Effective

Dimensions of ABA, practically, enough to be socially/clinically important

— Pushes ppl to find interventions that produce large/consistent effects

— + do interventions produce noticeable changes in reasons those behaviors were chosen

Generalized Outcomes

Dimensions of ABA, lasts over time, appears in other environments, spreads to other behaviors not treated