BEHV 4010 Exam 1
Explain why Skinner believes that science was blamed for many of the problems faced
by the world when he wrote this book (pp. 4-5)? - ANS-In the text, he explains that
scientific breakthroughs have involuntarily led to many destructive things such as war,
poverty, and overpopulation without preparing for the social issues that stem from these.
Rather than abandon science, what does Skinner propose as an alternative solution? -
ANS-People have shunned the scientific process rather than the misuse of science.
Science is not wrong, but rather it's application. He suggests to use science as a
corrective and apply science to human affairs.
What is both the goal (end product) and basic working assumption of science? -
ANS-Skinner states that "order is not only a possible end product; it is a working
assumption".
Skinner states that we are in transition in regards to our beliefs about behavior and that
we have conflicting views on the causes of behavior. What does he mean by this? -
ANS-Skinner means that we are in the middle of a shift where our thoughts about
behavior are moving from a more traditional philosophy to a more modern scientific
point of view. There are things we still slightly resist changing our mind about, yet we
have accepted the assumption of determinism.
How does a transition in regards to our beliefs about behavior relate to a reference
about Copernicus and Darwin? - ANS-Just like the reference to Copernicus and Darwin,
us humans want to believe that we are apart of a "bigger picture", and we look for
deeper meanings rather than trying to understand what science is telling us.
Why does this goal/assumption make the application of science to human behavior
appear unattractive and/or seemingly not possible to many people? - ANS-This idea is
unappealing to many people because it goes against their religious views and beliefs
that we humans are "free agents" and our behavior is from unprompted inner decision
making, rather than antecedent conditions.
In addition to resistance to viewing behavior as lawful (a lack of free will/threat to
freedom), what are additional objections to a scientific understanding of human
behavior? - ANS-In the text, Skinner explains that an additional objective people may
have to science is that people see science appropriate up to a certain point, but it does
, not explain what do in certain situations, and for those situations we must use our best
judgement.
Skinner states that we are "in transition " (p. 9). What two points of view are we "in flux"
between? - ANS-We are in the middle of a shift where our thoughts about behavior are
moving from a more traditional philosophy to a more modern scientific point of view.
"Confusion in theory means confusion in practice." What are the implications of this
statement in regards to the role a scientific explanation of behavior will have on human
affairs? - ANS-We have conflicting views regarding human behavior and control and
those difficulties in theory translate into difficulties in policy and conflicts arise.
What are the differences between science and the products of science? - ANS-Science
is a process that allows us to discover information.
What are the basic products of a science of behavior? - ANS-The organized
accumulation of information is the product, so Behavior Analysis or a science of a
human behavior.
Why is a mathematical formula or a microscope not to be confused with science itself?
Why is it important not to confuse precise measurement with science? - ANS-Those are
tools or instruments of science but they do not constitute science. You can get very
precise measurements while not doing science at all.
What are the three progression phases of science? - ANS-Description, Prediction, and
Control
Describe the description phase of science. - ANS-Collection of facts about observed
events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other
known facts
Describe the prediction phase of science. - ANS-Relative probability that when one
event occurs, another event will or will not occur. Based on repeated observation
revealing correlations between various events..
Describe the control phase of science. - ANS-Highest level of understanding; dependent
variables reliably be changes by specific manipulations of others event.
Describe why our frequent contact with behavior has actually made behavior difficult to
study - ANS-Since each person has frequent contact with behavior, so each person will
Explain why Skinner believes that science was blamed for many of the problems faced
by the world when he wrote this book (pp. 4-5)? - ANS-In the text, he explains that
scientific breakthroughs have involuntarily led to many destructive things such as war,
poverty, and overpopulation without preparing for the social issues that stem from these.
Rather than abandon science, what does Skinner propose as an alternative solution? -
ANS-People have shunned the scientific process rather than the misuse of science.
Science is not wrong, but rather it's application. He suggests to use science as a
corrective and apply science to human affairs.
What is both the goal (end product) and basic working assumption of science? -
ANS-Skinner states that "order is not only a possible end product; it is a working
assumption".
Skinner states that we are in transition in regards to our beliefs about behavior and that
we have conflicting views on the causes of behavior. What does he mean by this? -
ANS-Skinner means that we are in the middle of a shift where our thoughts about
behavior are moving from a more traditional philosophy to a more modern scientific
point of view. There are things we still slightly resist changing our mind about, yet we
have accepted the assumption of determinism.
How does a transition in regards to our beliefs about behavior relate to a reference
about Copernicus and Darwin? - ANS-Just like the reference to Copernicus and Darwin,
us humans want to believe that we are apart of a "bigger picture", and we look for
deeper meanings rather than trying to understand what science is telling us.
Why does this goal/assumption make the application of science to human behavior
appear unattractive and/or seemingly not possible to many people? - ANS-This idea is
unappealing to many people because it goes against their religious views and beliefs
that we humans are "free agents" and our behavior is from unprompted inner decision
making, rather than antecedent conditions.
In addition to resistance to viewing behavior as lawful (a lack of free will/threat to
freedom), what are additional objections to a scientific understanding of human
behavior? - ANS-In the text, Skinner explains that an additional objective people may
have to science is that people see science appropriate up to a certain point, but it does
, not explain what do in certain situations, and for those situations we must use our best
judgement.
Skinner states that we are "in transition " (p. 9). What two points of view are we "in flux"
between? - ANS-We are in the middle of a shift where our thoughts about behavior are
moving from a more traditional philosophy to a more modern scientific point of view.
"Confusion in theory means confusion in practice." What are the implications of this
statement in regards to the role a scientific explanation of behavior will have on human
affairs? - ANS-We have conflicting views regarding human behavior and control and
those difficulties in theory translate into difficulties in policy and conflicts arise.
What are the differences between science and the products of science? - ANS-Science
is a process that allows us to discover information.
What are the basic products of a science of behavior? - ANS-The organized
accumulation of information is the product, so Behavior Analysis or a science of a
human behavior.
Why is a mathematical formula or a microscope not to be confused with science itself?
Why is it important not to confuse precise measurement with science? - ANS-Those are
tools or instruments of science but they do not constitute science. You can get very
precise measurements while not doing science at all.
What are the three progression phases of science? - ANS-Description, Prediction, and
Control
Describe the description phase of science. - ANS-Collection of facts about observed
events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other
known facts
Describe the prediction phase of science. - ANS-Relative probability that when one
event occurs, another event will or will not occur. Based on repeated observation
revealing correlations between various events..
Describe the control phase of science. - ANS-Highest level of understanding; dependent
variables reliably be changes by specific manipulations of others event.
Describe why our frequent contact with behavior has actually made behavior difficult to
study - ANS-Since each person has frequent contact with behavior, so each person will
