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Related Experiment Videos

Behavior as a social construction.

C P. Shimp1

  • 1Room 502, Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 S. 1530 E. 84112-0251, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA

Behavioural Processes
|May 23, 2001
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Behavior analysis, particularly the matching law, is analyzed through a social constructionist lens. Findings suggest actual practice aligns more with positivism than constructionism, impacting scientific tolerance.

Area of Science:

  • Behavioral science
  • Philosophy of science

Background:

  • Social constructionism offers an alternative to traditional positivistic views of science.
  • Behavior analysis, especially the matching law, is a key area for examining these perspectives.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To define social constructionism and contrast it with positivism.
  • To analyze behavior analysis and the matching law from both positivistic and constructionist viewpoints.
  • To explore implications for scientific tolerance.

Main Methods:

  • Conceptual analysis comparing social constructionism and positivism.
  • Examination of the matching law within behavior analysis.
  • Analogy drawn between scientific principles and musical composition (e.g., Mozart).

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Main Results:

  • The practice of behavior analysis aligns more closely with positivist principles than constructionist ones.
  • The matching law, like classical music, can be viewed as a product of its technological and cultural context.
  • Behavior analysts may perceive the matching law as more objective than cultural artifacts.

Conclusions:

  • Behavior analysis's alignment with positivism is more pronounced than often acknowledged.
  • Viewing scientific laws as culturally situated can foster greater tolerance within science.
  • The study highlights the influence of historical context on scientific understanding.