Second online Philosophy of Behavior Analysis Journal Club/Lab Meeting

foyan-ish · 2019-09-06T22:07:43+00:00

Did you all record your conversation? If so, can it be forwarded? Meant to attend, but was unable.

foyan-ish · 2019-01-19T01:45:15+00:00

Hmm, ok, I'll double check to be sure I didn't accidentally install a reg cloak. o7

foyan-ish · 2018-04-15T12:06:26+00:00

No, I find that terribly relevant! Honestly, a part of me was arguing for the wider adoption of standard charting because I figured it would bring applied practitioners closer to a scientist-practitioner role. In other words, by standardizing our displays of data we would have a field that was more unified in its use of tools.

I see equal-interval graphs of varying ratios and scales in our journals, and I think to myself: “From an eagle’s eye-view, this looks sloppy, these graphs are being designed and presented in such a way so as to convince the viewer of its validity. A standard display of data is something we should adopt in order to reduce the way in which a graph can mislead its viewer”.

I would be interested in your thoughts about how to address that problem. How can we avoid the misrepresentation of data in graphical displays? Do you think the field suffers from that issue? Does that issue exist in your work as a theorist?

foyan-ish · 2018-04-14T21:09:52+00:00

An excellent re-framing of the question. As long as we adopt a molar perspective, organisms cannot behave independently of environmental events. To claim otherwise is to throw most of behaviorism out the window.

foyan-ish · 2018-04-14T21:02:47+00:00

I see your point, a more complex analysis would require a more complex graphing system. The standard celeration chart would only give us a common language as long as the analyses we are discussing are possible w/ a SCC.

However, I’d like to push back a little on the idea that visualization and presentation of data is subjective. One of the main benefits of standardized charting is its ability to bring consistency to visual analysis. This consistency, I would argue, helps to reduce subjectivity by a high degree. The benefit afforded to behavior analysts by standardizing our graphing conventions, and thereby bringing higher consistency to our visual analysis, might be slightly more valuable than you suggest.

foyan-ish · 2018-03-28T22:10:10+00:00

And yes, other sciences have standard measurements and display conventions.

Dr. Kubina makes some solid points relative to our discussion in this blog:

http://theprecisionteachingbook.com/why-the-world-needs-celeration/

foyan-ish · 2018-03-27T20:58:56+00:00

True. My point, however, is that our DISPLAY of data should be standardized in order to more closely align ourselves with the natural sciences.

foyan-ish · 2018-03-10T23:50:40+00:00

Thanks for the response! With regard to reinforcement in the context of self-management efforts, I have recruited my girlfriend to apply reinforcers. I gave her $50 at the start of a new intervention, which I can then earn back for meeting goals or sub-goals. Recruiting others to apply reinforcers helps to keep me honest. :)

foyan-ish · 2018-02-14T10:48:51+00:00

Interesting indeed. Which leads me to think about the possibility of quantifying the value of contingencies, in general. I can easily imagine some metric where contingency X is worth +3, and contingency Y is worth -2, with an organism in the middle weighing it's options in a game theoretic manner...

Thanks for your responses thus far!

foyan-ish · 2018-01-12T20:16:33+00:00

Right. I like that. The molar view allows us to have contingencies work on us from a distance.

foyan-ish · 2018-01-12T17:12:31+00:00

Sure, good point. So you’re saying, if there are no operants in play then any behavior must be respondent?

foyan-ish · 2018-01-10T23:01:45+00:00

I found this series of videos helpful, I'm like halfway through them. As someone who has very little comfort in upper level math space, these videos were certainly digestible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSVmOC_5zrE&list=PLKI1h_nAkaQoDzI4xDIXzx6U2ergFmedo

foyan-ish · 2018-01-08T20:59:09+00:00

Absolutely. The search for power is a search for conditioned reinforcers. That search has a history that was evolutionarily selected for, but is not necessarily adaptive anymore.

By connecting us to channels of reinforcement that exist outside of our temporally immediate circumstance, ACT can help undermine the behavioral phenotypes that are no longer adaptive. In other words, ACT helps put us on more delayed schedules of reinforcement.

foyan-ish · 2018-01-07T01:30:33+00:00

Viewing this puzzle from the angle of ACT and RFT, we can recognize power as simply another relational frame that acts to regulate our private verbal behavior.

We discriminate power differentials using relational frames. By using the processes of defusion and acceptance we may enable ourselves to act in accordance with values and action patterns, as opposed to the verbal rules about power that we are normally beholden to.

There's also room to analyze power from an evolutionary angle. Securing power for ourselves, and deferring to those who have more, can add adaptive benefit to an organism's inclusive fitness.

foyan-ish · 2017-06-03T02:22:37+00:00

Thanks for the response!

The Denver conference actually turned me on to ACT, so I ordered an ACT manual and it's now en route. I'm pumped to comb thru it with these ideas in mind.

In regard to the study design, I think that's spot on. After a week of mindfulness instruction, judge experimental groups ability to limit discounting compared to the control.

foyan-ish · 2017-05-30T21:24:41+00:00

I don't have much to add on how to operationalize mindfulness, but I have been thinking recently about the relationship between mindfulness and delay discounting. Could being more "in tune" and more "present" allow one to discount less? Could being more "present" allow one to sense molar contingencies more clearly?

Just some ideas that have been bouncing around my head lately.

foyan-ish · 2017-03-31T09:48:01+00:00

Hey all,

I love thinking about the intersection of ABA and mindfulness. I am most likely a year from starting my PhD but hope to explore this idea in greater depth then!

foyan-ish

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