ABA

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Philosophical Underpinnings of Science and ABA

This module highlights philosophical underpinnings and concepts related to science. These concepts are also core to the science of ABA and shapes our practice as scientist practitioners.

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Attitudes of Science

The idea of science is based on determinism, which states that behavior is lawful, orderly, and determined. Things are seen to happen for a reason and are predictable rather than occurring randomly. If the latter was the case, it would be very difficult to establish scientific principles.

Another key feature of science is empiricism, which enables us to take an objective look at phenomena and not rely on the opinions or statements of others as “truth”. With this attitude, we are looking for FACTS based on data stemming from observation and experience. This attitude requires objective quantification and detailed description of events so that others may observe it also.

Experimentation is the basic strategy of most sciences and is an assessment to determine if one event caused another event. It allows us to draw conclusions about the functional relations.

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Attitudes of Science (Continued)

Replication is simply repeating experiments. We want experiments to be replicated over and over again with different researchers, different populations, different settings, etc. This is the method that scientists use to determine the reliability, believability, and usefulness of their findings. This process also allows for accountability and for scientists to discover mistakes and make improvements along the way.

A scientist’s attitude of parsimony is that simple and logical explanations must be ruled out before considering more complex explanations. We may find that something is more complex, but we prefer to test what is simple and logical first. This helps scientists fit findings within the field’s existing knowledge base.

Lastly, philosophical doubt is having a healthy skepticism and a critical eye about the results of studies and your work with clients. We shouldn’t assume that we know all of the answers and there is always more to learn and improve upon.

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6 Attitudes of Science

There are several attitudes of science, but these six are widely agreed upon as the basis for experimental analysis of behavior. One acronym that helped me remember these terms and may be beneficial to you also is

6 Attitudes of Science

Acronym: DEER PP Unfwnftyof 1(.C

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DEER PP. Again, the terms are determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, and philosophic doubt. You will want to make sure to have a firm understanding of these terms.

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Additional Philosophical Assumptions of ABA

In addition to the previously mentioned attitudes and assumptions of science, selectionism and pragmatism are two critical underlying assumptions of ABA.

Selectionism is the assumption that behavior is selected by its consequences, as behavior analysts, we consider the contingencies that are maintaining client behavior and intervene in a meaningful way to change these contingencies.

Pragmatism is the assumption that the true value of a statement lies in its ability to promote effective action. Rather than making blanket statements on why an individual is behaving in certain way, behavioral analysts use a pragmatic approach by making statements about the function of behavior and then creating an intervention that matches that function.

As you continue to learn more about the science of ABA you will see all of these concepts of science and ABA guide our practice and decision making process.

Unfwnftyof 1(.C CINCINNATI

Philosophical Underpinnings of Science and ABA

This module highlights philosophical underpinnings and concepts related to science. These concepts are also core to the science of ABA and shapes our practice as scientist practitioners.

Unfwnftyof 1(.C CINCINNATI

Attitudes of Science

The idea of science is based on determinism, which states that behavior is lawful, orderly, and determined. Things are seen to happen for a reason and are predictable rather than occurring randomly. If the latter was the case, it would be very difficult to establish scientific principles.

Another key feature of science is empiricism, which enables us to take an objective look at phenomena and not rely on the opinions or statements of others as “truth”. With this attitude, we are looking for FACTS based on data stemming from observation and experience. This attitude requires objective quantification and detailed description of events so that others may observe it also.

Experimentation is the basic strategy of most sciences and is an assessment to determine if one event caused another event. It allows us to draw conclusions about the functional relations.

Unfwnftyof 1(.C CINCINNATI

Attitudes of Science (Continued)

Replication is simply repeating experiments. We want experiments to be replicated over and over again with different researchers, different populations, different settings, etc. This is the method that scientists use to determine the reliability, believability, and usefulness of their findings. This process also allows for accountability and for scientists to discover mistakes and make improvements along the way.

A scientist’s attitude of parsimony is that simple and logical explanations must be ruled out before considering more complex explanations. We may find that something is more complex, but we prefer to test what is simple and logical first. This helps scientists fit findings within the field’s existing knowledge base.

Lastly, philosophical doubt is having a healthy skepticism and a critical eye about the results of studies and your work with clients. We shouldn’t assume that we know all of the answers and there is always more to learn and improve upon.

Unfwnftyof 1(.C CINCINNATI

6 Attitudes of Science

There are several attitudes of science, but these six are widely agreed upon as the basis for experimental analysis of behavior. One acronym that helped me remember these terms and may be beneficial to you also is

6 Attitudes of Science

Acronym: DEER PP Unfwnftyof 1(.C

CINCINNATI

DEER PP. Again, the terms are determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, and philosophic doubt. You will want to make sure to have a firm understanding of these terms.

Unfwnftyof 1(.C CINCINNATI

Additional Philosophical Assumptions of ABA

In addition to the previously mentioned attitudes and assumptions of science, selectionism and pragmatism are two critical underlying assumptions of ABA.

Selectionism is the assumption that behavior is selected by its consequences, as behavior analysts, we consider the contingencies that are maintaining client behavior and intervene in a meaningful way to change these contingencies.

Pragmatism is the assumption that the true value of a statement lies in its ability to promote effective action. Rather than making blanket statements on why an individual is behaving in certain way, behavioral analysts use a pragmatic approach by making statements about the function of behavior and then creating an intervention that matches that function.

As you continue to learn more about the science of ABA you will see all of these concepts of science and ABA guide our practice and decision making process.