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Updated: May 23, 2026
06:48
The HoneyComb Paradigm for Research on Collective Human Behavior
Published on: January 19, 2019
The basic-applied continuum and the possible evolution of human operant social and verbal research
1Psychology Department, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, USA.
The Behavior Analyst
|April 6, 2012
Summary
Human operant research should shift focus from replicating animal findings to initiating studies on complex human behaviors like social and verbal actions. This approach can bridge basic and applied science, expanding behavior analysis.
Area of Science:
- Behavior Analysis
- Human Operant Research
Background:
- Human operant research historically validated animal-derived principles in humans.
- The field's focus shifted to applied behavior analysis, diminishing basic human operant research.
- There's a recognized gap in understanding complex human behaviors within behavior analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To re-establish basic human operant research as a primary driver of scientific inquiry.
- To explore the potential of human subjects for foundational research in social and verbal behavior.
- To rebuild the connection between basic and applied behavior analysis.
Main Methods:
- The study proposes a conceptual shift in the role of human operant research.
- It advocates for initiating basic research with human subjects for complex behaviors.
- It emphasizes leveraging humans' unique capabilities for studying social and verbal behavior.
Main Results:
- A revitalized basic human operant research can initiate new content areas and methods.
- This approach can extend the reach of behavior analysis to new populations.
- It offers a path to bridge the gap between theoretical principles and practical applications.
Conclusions:
- Basic human operant research should lead, not just follow, scientific discovery.
- Focusing on human subjects for complex behaviors can significantly advance behavior analysis.
- This strategic redirection can foster broader growth and application of behavior analytic principles.
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