Suggested Greek translations of expressions in the experimental analysis of behavior.
Keep the 1979 Greek lexicon in your training folder to give Greek-speaking staff the right words for reinforcement, extinction, and more.
01Research in Context
What this study did
N et al. (1979) built the first Greek word list for basic ABA terms.
They picked words like reinforcement, extinction, and stimulus control.
Each English term got a Greek match plus a short note on usage.
What they found
The paper gives ready-to-use Greek labels for core concepts.
It warns where direct translation can twist the meaning.
You now have a 1979 cheat sheet for training Greek-speaking staff.
How this fits with other research
McGeown et al. (2013) did the same job for Korean by translating the QABF.
Both papers show that good translations keep the original concept intact.
Frame et al. (1984) also wrestled with language, but inside English.
They argued stimulus equivalence needs stricter probe wording.
Together the trio says: pick your words carefully, in any tongue.
Why it matters
If you supervise Greek-speaking RBTs, hand them this lexicon.
It saves you from inventing terms on the fly and prevents confusion.
One page, zero guesswork, clearer instruction for your learners.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
Greek-English and English-Greek translations of expressions in the experimental analysis of behavior are presented. Included is a short discussion of some of the problems which arose, partly because of the mentalistic nature of Greek science.
Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior, 1979 · doi:10.1901/jeab.1979.31-289