Units of analysis in verbal behavior matters because it changes what a BCBA notices when decisions have to hold up in language assessment, teaching sessions, caregiver coaching, and natural communication routines. In Units of analysis in verbal behavior, for this course, the practical stakes show up in clearer case conceptualization, better instructional targets, and stronger generalization, not in abstract discussion alone.
Provider: BehaviorLive — via The Verbal Behavior Conference
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Join Free →The purpose of classification is not just to categorize but to explain. In this talk I discuss the concept of the operant, the distinction between verbal operants and classes of verbal operants, the relevance of multiple control in our classifications, two definitions of the intraverbal, and a behavioral definition of the sentence. The unifying theme of the discussion is that explanation is more important than classification.
| Certification Body | Credits | Type |
|---|---|---|
| BACB® | 1 | General |
| COA | 1 | — |
Dave Palmer’s professional niche has been the attempt to clarify and extend Skinner’s interpretations of human behavior. With John Donahoe, he coauthored the text Learning and Complex Behavior, a text that offers a selectionist interpretation of behavioral complexity. His papers touch on the conceptual foundations of behavior analysis, problem solving, memory, private events, and especially verbal behavior. In 2018, he retired from 30 years at Smith College, but he continues to teach a graduate seminar in verbal behavior every year at Western New England University. He has edited two of Skinner’s unpublished works—the Hefferline Notes and the William James Lectures—(available for free at bfskinner.org), and he has written forewords to the new editions of Contingencies of Reinforcement and Verbal Behavior.
Dig into the research behind this topic — plain-English summaries written for BCBAs.
239 research articles with practitioner takeaways
188 research articles with practitioner takeaways
183 research articles with practitioner takeaways
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All behavior-analytic intervention is individualized. The information on this page is for educational purposes and does not constitute clinical advice. Treatment decisions should be informed by the best available published research, individualized assessment, and obtained with the informed consent of the client or their legal guardian. Behavior analysts are responsible for practicing within the boundaries of their competence and adhering to the BACB Ethics Code for Behavior Analysts.