Question: This philosophical assumption of science describes a behavior analyst’s commitment to database decision-making.

Answer: Empiricism.

Knowledge is built on empiricism, and empiricism is a scientific focus on objective observation and measurement. That means that all science, including our science, relies on experimentation, which then draws its conclusions from data. Empiricism in science requires this objective quantification and detailed description of events. These descriptions are regarded as facts that are derived from experimentation and data collection. When you hear the words “evidence-based,” or “fact-based,” or “based on facts,” what’s being described specifically is data. Data equals facts. And empiricism, in itself, is that focus on the data.

For example, an empirical statement: “I study two to three hours a day, five days a week.” Assuming you collected data to make that statement, that’s empiricism. Versus, “I study a lot.” Not empirical. Somebody who measured how much sleep they get and made the empirical claim that they sleep eight hours a night, six out of seven nights a week; that is an empirical statement, assuming the data was collected. Versus a non-empirical statement, which would be: “I get enough sleep,” or “I get a lot of sleep,” or “I don’t get that much sleep.” That doesn’t mean anything. It’s not fact-based. It’s not data-based.

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A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that experiments should be repeated to determine the reliability and usefulness of their findings and to discover and correct mistakes.

Pragmatism

A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that focuses on practical solutions (e.g., if it works, don’t fix it), which at the level of behavior, involves the relation…

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A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that the truth should always be questioned with healthy skepticism, which means viewing the results of studies and clinical work with…

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A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that the simplest theory requiring the fewest assumptions must be ruled out before considering more complex explanations.

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Empiricism

A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that knowledge is built on objective observation and measurement (data).

Determinism

A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that the world is an orderly, predictable, and lawful place where all events occur as a product of cause and effect.

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