Stimulus analyzer theory as proposed by Sutherland and Mackintosh (1971) makes the unique prediction that the first-experienced reinforcement schedule will influence resistance to extinction more than subsequent schedules. Results presently reported of runaway acquisition and extinction indicate the opposite: C-P consistently produce substantially…

This paper attempts to clarify some of the misunderstandings which have arisen in relation to a behavior analysis of child development. Five frequent criticisms of the approach are discussed. The first concerns the confusion of behavior analysis with learning theories. Although many of the concepts of behavior analysis arose from learning…

This study sought to determine whether subjects who rated themselves for guidance (assumed not to be influenced by social desirability) would rate themselves differently from subjects who rated themselves for science (expected to be influenced by social desirability). (Author)

Psychological researchers should deal with the concrete stimulus-response principles of learning on which behavior is based, and study behaviors that are representative of real life behaviors. The present research strategy has come from two faulty ideas: first, a concern with underlying, inferred mental processes, rather than with actual tasks or…

Partial and methodologically questionable replications of the Luria experiments on the child's verbal regulation of his motor behavior have led to results and conclusions contradictory to Luria's findings. An error in the methodology of two of these replications is discussed as the reason for a new investigation of Luria's hypothesis. Several…