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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 23, 2026

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Modeling Verbal Behavior Deficits with the Stimulus Control Ratio Equation, SCoRE

Published on: May 14, 2019

Contingency and behavior analysis.

¹Departmentof Psychology, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. lattal@wvnvm.wvnet.edu

The Behavior Analyst

|April 6, 2012

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

This review explores the concept of contingency in learned behavior, examining its empirical analysis, theoretical integration, and practical applications in behavior analysis research.

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Area of Science:

Behavioral Science
Psychology
Learning Theory

Background:

Contingency is a core concept in understanding learned behavior.
Its application is crucial for addressing socially significant issues.
Behavior analysis provides a framework for studying contingency.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the development of the contingency concept by behavior analysts.
To examine empirical, theoretical, and applied aspects of contingency.
To synthesize research for a broader understanding of behavioral processes.

Main Methods:

Empirical analysis of contingency through experimental studies.
Review of human and nonhuman behavior experiments.
Synthesis of findings into theoretical and conceptual frameworks.

Main Results:

Experimental studies provide empirical data on contingency.
Theoretical frameworks integrate contingency with other behavioral processes.
Practical considerations highlight applications in diverse settings.

Conclusions:

The contingency concept is multifaceted, encompassing empirical, theoretical, and applied dimensions.
Integration of research advances the general account of contingency.
Understanding contingency is vital for both laboratory and applied behavior analysis.