On the origin and functions of the term functional analysis

Area of Science:

• Behavioral Psychology
• Experimental Analysis

Background:

• The standard framework for functional analyses of problem behavior was established by Iwata et al. in 1982.
• The term "functional analysis" in behavior analysis may have been first introduced by B. F. Skinner in 1948.

Observation:

• A functional analysis is fundamentally an experimental analysis, a concept present in Skinner's 1938 work, "The Behavior of Organisms: An Experimental Analysis."
• Skinner initially applied functional analysis to understand verbal behavior.

Findings:

• This essay traces the origins of functional analysis in behavior analysis, attributing its initial use to B. F. Skinner.
• It highlights the experimental nature inherent in functional analysis, linking it to Skinner's foundational work.

Implications:

• The essay suggests applying Skinner's approach to the verbal behavior of behavior analysts themselves.
• Specifically, it proposes analyzing the term "functional analysis" using the same experimental tactic.