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Relations between Description and Experimentation in the Metacontingency Enterprise: An Interbehavioral Analysis.
1Department of Psychology, University of Nevada, Reno, Mail Stop 296, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557 USA.
Perspectives on Behavior Science
|October 11, 2021
Summary
This study analyzes metacontingency research, finding inconsistencies between theoretical descriptions and experimental results. It suggests adjustments to improve the description of cultural selection processes.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral science
- Cultural selection
- Interbehavioral analysis
Background:
- Metacontingency research lacks consensus on aligning theoretical constructs with experimental findings.
- Existing metacontingency models may not fully capture observed experimental phenomena.
- There is a need to bridge the gap between metacontingency theory and empirical research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide an interbehavioral analysis of the metacontingency enterprise.
- To examine the relationship between descriptions of metacontingency constructs and experimental outcomes.
- To facilitate research on cultural selection driven by metacontingencies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of stimulus functions of metacontingency construct descriptions in experiments.
- Assessment of specificity, types, levels, and procedures in metacontingency experiments.
- Evaluation of the congruence between experimental findings and metacontingency constructs.
Main Results:
- Identified inconsistencies between described metacontingency relations and those observed in experiments.
- Summarized key events and relations from prominent metacontingency experiments.
- Highlighted discrepancies in how experimental findings are described versus constructed.
Conclusions:
- Recommendations are provided for refining experimental and descriptive practices in metacontingency research.
- The interbehavioral analysis serves as a potential template for analyzing other research areas.
- Further interbehavioral analyses of the metacontingency enterprise are encouraged.
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