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| Conceptual and Research Issues in the Analysis of Verbal Behavior |
| Sunday, May 30, 2004 |
| 1:30 PM–2:20 PM |
| Independence West |
| Area: VBC |
| Chair: Mark L. Sundberg (Behavior Analysts, Inc.) |
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| What the Autoclitic is and What the Autoclitic is Not |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| MARK L. SUNDBERG (Behavior Analysts, Inc.) |
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| Abstract: The autoclitic is a complex type of verbal behavior where a speaker’s own verbal behavior functions as an SD or an EO for additional speaker verbal behavior. The consequences for this behavior involve differential reinforcement from the listener. In the autoclitic relation “Part of the behavior of an organism becomes in turn one of the variables controlling another part. There are at least two systems of responses, one based upon the other. The upper level can only be understood in terms of its relation to the lower” (Skinner, 1957, p. 313). Skinner identifies these two levels of verbal behavior as “primary” and “secondary” verbal behavior. Thus, there are always two related, but separate three-term contingencies to analyze in autoclitic relations. Recently, however several writers and speakers have talked about autoclitic relations, but what is presented is not what Skinner would consider autoclitic behavior. The purpose of this presentation is to distinguish between what is and what is not autoclitic behavior following Skinner’s original definition. In addition, the role of autoclitic training in the early language programs for children with autism will be discussed. |
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| New Research Paradigms for Verbal Behavior Research: Are They Necessary or Possible? |
| Domain: Applied Research |
| GENAE HALL (Behavior Analysis & Intervention Services) |
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| Abstract: In his (1998) article "The Methodological Challenge of the Functional Analysis of Verbal Behavior," Leigland argued that there had been a relative lack of growth in the verbal area. He further suggested that building an effective science of verbal behavior "will require an advance not yet acheived in behavior-analytic science; that is, the empirical exploration of verbal behavior through the development of experimental preparations as powerful functional anlytic tools." He cited experimental preparations, systematic empirical strategies, and special laboratory contexts and conventions that allow research in a particular area to be conveniently conducted, such as the rat-lever chamber preparation for the study of operant behavior and artibrary matching-to-sample procedures which have been used to study stimulus equivalence. For verbal behavior to become a highly productive research area, convenient research paradigms such as these appear to be needed. The present talk will re-visit the topic of methodological challenges in verbal behavior research and identify some critical features of effective research paradigms. The paradigms employed in recent verbal behavior research will be discussed in terms of their convenience and usefulness in generating additional research. Possible new paradigms for conducting verbal behavior research will also be discussed. |
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