Question: This philosophical assumption of science is defined as objective observation and measurement.

Answer: “empiricism.”

There are six attitudes of science, and empiricism is what knowledge is built upon. It requires objective observation and measurement. Something empirical is based on objective observation and measurement. This assumption of science is a big part of ABA. Because, like all science, ABA takes an experimental database scientific approach, empiricism is critically important to us. In fact, what makes our field scientific is this reliance on empirical evidence. When you think of the word “evidence,” think of the word “data”. Data equals evidence. Data also equals facts. Facts as evidence gives us empiricism. If you like to say things like, “I always do that,” then you’re not really basing that self-assessment on any sort of empirical evidence. But, if you measure your own behavior and find that you do that thing, 80% of the time, then your statement is empirically validated; it is based on facts derived from, hopefully, an experiment. Therefore, you’ve got experimental evidence, which gives you empiricism.

Empiricism is what makes our science evidence-based.

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Selectionism

A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that anything that evolves does so because of the consequences of behavior, meaning that behaviors that result in positive consequences survive…

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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…

Parsimony

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.

Experimentation

A philosophical assumption underlying the science of behavior analysis that a controlled comparison of the dependent variable under two or more conditions (independent variables) is required to assess if one…

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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