SPCE 611 Exam 1 Questions With
Correct Detailed Answers 2025
Description - ANSWER- The level of investigation that involves the collection
of facts about observed events that can be quantified, classified, and
examined for possible relations with other known facts, and often suggests
hypotheses or questions for additional research. P. 3
Prediction - ANSWER- The level of investigation that demonstrates
correlation between events and is based on repeated observations. P. 3
Control - ANSWER- The level of investigation in which functional relations
can be derived. P. 4
Overall Goal of Science - ANSWER- To achieve a thorough understanding of
the phenomenon under study. P. 3
Functional Relation - ANSWER- Specific change in the dependent variable can
reliably be produced by specific manipulations in the independent variable,
and the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of
confounding variables. P. 4
Determinism - ANSWER- This is the assumption upon which science is
predicated, the idea that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which
all phenomena occur as the result of other events. P. 5
Empiricism - ANSWER- The practice of objective observation of the
phenomena of interest; objective observations are "independent of the
individual prejudices, tastes, and private opinions of the scientist... Results
of empirical methods are objective in that they are open to anyone's
observation and do not depend on the subjective belief of the individual
scientist" P. 5
Experiment - ANSWER- A carefully conducted comparison of some measure
of the phenomenon of interest (the dependent variable) under two or more
different conditions in which only one factor at a time (the independent
variable) differs from one condition to another. P. 6
Experimental analysis of behavior - ANSWER- This is the branch of behavior
analysis that focuses on basic research. P.11
Replication - ANSWER- The repeating of experiments to determine the
reliability and usefulness of findings. Includes the repetition of independent
variable conditions within experiments. Method for which mistakes are
discovered
P. 6
, Parsimony - ANSWER- This is the idea that simple, logical explanations
must be ruled out, experimentally or conceptually, before more complex or
abstract explanations are considered. P.6
Philosophic Doubt - ANSWER- Requires the scientist to continually question
the truthfulness of what is regarded as fact. P. 6
Science - ANSWER- A systematic approach to the understanding of
natural phenomena--as evidenced by description, prediction, and
control---that relies on determinism as its fundamental assumption,
empiricism as its prime directive, experimentation as its basic strategy,
replication as its necessary requirement for believably, parsimony as its
conservative value, and philosophic doubt as its guiding conscience.
Behaviorism - ANSWER- The philosophy of a science of behavior. P. 7
Three-term contingency - ANSWER- The S-R-S model of psychology. P. 10
Operant Behavior - ANSWER- Behaviors is shaped through the consequence
that immediately follow it. P. 10
B. F. Skinner - ANSWER- This person is considered to be the founder of
experimental analysis of behavior.
Hypothetical Constructs - ANSWER- A presumed but unobserved process or
entity. P. 10
Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) - ANSWER- A natural science
approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in its own right
founded by B. F. Skinner; methodological features include rate of response
as a basic dependent variable, repeated or continuous measurement of
clearly defined response classes, within- subject experimental comparisons
instead of group design, visual analysis of graphed data instead of statistical
inference, and an emphasis on describing functional relations between
behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory
testing. P. 11
Mentalism - ANSWER- This is the approach to understanding behavior that
assumes that a mental or "inner" dimension exists that differs from a
behavioral dimension and that phenomena in this dimension either directly
cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior. P. 12
Explanatory Fictions - ANSWER- A fictitious variable that often is simply
another name for the observed behavior that contributes nothing to an
unmaintaining the behavior. P. 12
Correct Detailed Answers 2025
Description - ANSWER- The level of investigation that involves the collection
of facts about observed events that can be quantified, classified, and
examined for possible relations with other known facts, and often suggests
hypotheses or questions for additional research. P. 3
Prediction - ANSWER- The level of investigation that demonstrates
correlation between events and is based on repeated observations. P. 3
Control - ANSWER- The level of investigation in which functional relations
can be derived. P. 4
Overall Goal of Science - ANSWER- To achieve a thorough understanding of
the phenomenon under study. P. 3
Functional Relation - ANSWER- Specific change in the dependent variable can
reliably be produced by specific manipulations in the independent variable,
and the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of
confounding variables. P. 4
Determinism - ANSWER- This is the assumption upon which science is
predicated, the idea that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which
all phenomena occur as the result of other events. P. 5
Empiricism - ANSWER- The practice of objective observation of the
phenomena of interest; objective observations are "independent of the
individual prejudices, tastes, and private opinions of the scientist... Results
of empirical methods are objective in that they are open to anyone's
observation and do not depend on the subjective belief of the individual
scientist" P. 5
Experiment - ANSWER- A carefully conducted comparison of some measure
of the phenomenon of interest (the dependent variable) under two or more
different conditions in which only one factor at a time (the independent
variable) differs from one condition to another. P. 6
Experimental analysis of behavior - ANSWER- This is the branch of behavior
analysis that focuses on basic research. P.11
Replication - ANSWER- The repeating of experiments to determine the
reliability and usefulness of findings. Includes the repetition of independent
variable conditions within experiments. Method for which mistakes are
discovered
P. 6
, Parsimony - ANSWER- This is the idea that simple, logical explanations
must be ruled out, experimentally or conceptually, before more complex or
abstract explanations are considered. P.6
Philosophic Doubt - ANSWER- Requires the scientist to continually question
the truthfulness of what is regarded as fact. P. 6
Science - ANSWER- A systematic approach to the understanding of
natural phenomena--as evidenced by description, prediction, and
control---that relies on determinism as its fundamental assumption,
empiricism as its prime directive, experimentation as its basic strategy,
replication as its necessary requirement for believably, parsimony as its
conservative value, and philosophic doubt as its guiding conscience.
Behaviorism - ANSWER- The philosophy of a science of behavior. P. 7
Three-term contingency - ANSWER- The S-R-S model of psychology. P. 10
Operant Behavior - ANSWER- Behaviors is shaped through the consequence
that immediately follow it. P. 10
B. F. Skinner - ANSWER- This person is considered to be the founder of
experimental analysis of behavior.
Hypothetical Constructs - ANSWER- A presumed but unobserved process or
entity. P. 10
Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) - ANSWER- A natural science
approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in its own right
founded by B. F. Skinner; methodological features include rate of response
as a basic dependent variable, repeated or continuous measurement of
clearly defined response classes, within- subject experimental comparisons
instead of group design, visual analysis of graphed data instead of statistical
inference, and an emphasis on describing functional relations between
behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory
testing. P. 11
Mentalism - ANSWER- This is the approach to understanding behavior that
assumes that a mental or "inner" dimension exists that differs from a
behavioral dimension and that phenomena in this dimension either directly
cause or at least mediate some forms of behavior. P. 12
Explanatory Fictions - ANSWER- A fictitious variable that often is simply
another name for the observed behavior that contributes nothing to an
unmaintaining the behavior. P. 12
