8/25/2011 An Examination of Science What is Science • Is a systematic approach for analyzing and organizing knowledge. • Used by all scientists regardless of the field of study • ABA – socially important behaviors • Uses the Scientific Method • Allows you to achieve a thorough understanding of the phenomena under study ▫ Seeks to discover the real truths ▫ Not those held by certain groups or organizations Some Characteristics of Science Observation • Different types of investigations provide • Lots of things to look at out there different levels of understanding: • Can be just about anything ▫ Observation ▫ Description • In Psychology and ABA - Behavior ▫ Prediction ▫ Control • Each level contributes to the overall knowledge base in a given field Description Prediction Defined as the probability that when one event Begin to collect facts about observed events occurs, another event will or will not occur Can quantify, classify, or examine for relations with Is based on repeated observations revealing other “known” facts relationships between various events Old Philosophers, only examine one thing (Aristotle) Allows you to demonstrates a relationship or New way, make comparisons between items. correlation between events No causal relationships can be interpreted Relations allow you to create hypotheses or questions for additional research 1 8/25/2011 Control (continued) Control • Is the highest level of scientific understanding • Events can only really be “co-related” • Functional relations can be derived through ▫ Cannot ever factor out all other possible “causes” various types of examinations. ▫ But you can significantly reduce them • E.g., Experimental method Is why we use statistics and probability that an event Specific changes in one event (dependent occurs variable) can reliably be produced by specific P<.05 vs. P<.10 vs. P<.001 etc. manipulations of another event (independent variable) Change is unlikely to be the result of other extraneous factors (confounding variables) Attitudes of Science Scientific Attitudes • Science as a set of attitudes (Skinner, 1953) • Guides the work of all scientists • Definition lies within the behavior of scientists, • Includes: not the instruments or materials they use ▫ Determinism • Only known as science due to an overriding idea ▫ Empiricism of “scientific method” ▫ Experimentation ▫ Fundamental assumptions about the nature of events ▫ Replication ▫ Parsimony ▫ Philosophic doubt Empiricism Determinism • Is an Assumption upon which science is • Practice of objective observation of phenomena predicated of interest • Presumption • Is what all scientific knowledge is built upon The universe is a lawful and orderly place All phenomena occur as the result of other events • “Objective” is the key to gaining a better Events do not just occur at will understanding of what is being studied Events are related in systematic ways 2 8/25/2011 Experimentation Replication • Basic strategy in most sciences • Allows you to determine usefulness of findings • Experiment: • Includes the repetition of independent variable ▫ Controlled comparison of some measure of the conditions within experiments phenomenon of interest (dependent variable) • Method for which mistakes are discovered under two of more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (independent variable) differs from one condition to another Parsimony Philosophic Doubt • The idea that simple, logical explanations must • The continuous questioning of the truthfulness be ruled out, experimentally or conceptually, and validity of all scientific theory and before more complex or abstract explanations knowledge are considered • Involves the use of scientific evidence before • Help scientists relate findings of a study to a implementing a new practice, then monitoring field’s existing knowledge base the effectiveness of the practice after its implementation Science is… • A systematic approach to the understanding of ABA natural phenomena… • As evidenced by description, and control… • Uses the underlying principles of science • That relies on determinism as its fundamental • Often uses experimental or quasi-experimental assumption… research • Empiricism as its prime directive… • Uses in applied settings • Experimentation as its basic strategy… ▫ Individuals • Replication as its necessary requirement for ▫ Businesses believability… ▫ Education • Parsimony as its conservative value… ▫ Medicine • And philosophic doubt as its guiding conscience. 3 8/25/2011 Conclusions • Science is the basic underpinning of ABA and Psychology in general • Scientific method can be used to examine a wide variety of phenomena • Uses a variety of methods ▫ Some are more reliable and valid than others 4 .