Skip to main content
PMC home page
The Behavior Analyst logoLink to The Behavior Analyst
. 1981 Fall;4(2):93–102. doi: 10.1007/BF03391858

The schism between experimental and applied behavior analysis: Is it real and who cares? 1

Alan Poling, Mitchell Picker, Deborah Grossett, Earl Hall-Johnson, Maurice Holbrook
PMCID: PMC2741917  PMID: 22478543

Abstract

This paper addresses the relationship between the experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis. Citation data indicate that across time the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, and other experimental sources, have been referenced increasingly infrequently in the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behavior Therapy, and Behavior Research and Therapy. Such sources are now rarely cited in these journals, and never have been regularly referenced in Behavior Modification. Although their proper interpretation is far from certain, these data partially support recent suggestions that the experimental analysis of behavior and applied behavior analysis are largely separate, insular fields. A questionnaire, mailed to the editorial staffs of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior and the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, was intended to gather further information about the alleged schism between the fields. Few respondents regularly read both journals, publish in both journals, or find both journals useful in their current research efforts. The majority of editors of both journals indicated that the fields were growing apart, although there was no consensus that this is harmful for behavior analysis. Most editors of the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis reported that research published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior has decreased in value to applied researchers across time; most editors of the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior indicated that research published there has not changed in applied value. Several respondents commented at length concerning the relationship of experimental and applied behavior analysis. These comments, many of which appear in the article, reveal a marked plurality of views.

Full text

PDF
93

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. AYLLON T., HAUGHTON E. Control of the behavior of schizophrenic patients by food. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Jul;5:343–352. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-343. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. AYLLON T., MICHAEL J. The psychiatric nurse as a behavioral engineer. J Exp Anal Behav. 1959 Oct;2:323–334. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1959.2-323. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Ayllon T., Azrin N. H. The measurement and reinforcement of behavior of psychotics. J Exp Anal Behav. 1965 Nov;8(6):357–383. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-357. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Baer D. M., Wolf M. M., Risley T. R. Some current dimensions of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1968 Spring;1(1):91–97. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1968.1-91. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Branch M. N., Malagodi E. F. Where have all the behaviorists gone? Behav Anal. 1980 Spring;3(1):31–38. doi: 10.1007/BF03392376. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. FREUND K., SEDLACEK F., KNOB K. A SIMPLE TRANSDUCER FOR MECHANICAL PLETHYSMOGRAPHY OF THE MALE GENITAL. J Exp Anal Behav. 1965 May;8:169–170. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1965.8-169. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Foster W. S. Adjunctive behavior: an under-reported phenomenon in applied behavior analysis? J Appl Behav Anal. 1978 Winter;11(4):545–546. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1978.11-545. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Hayes S. C., Rincover A., Solnick J. V. The technical drift of applied behavior analysis. J Appl Behav Anal. 1980 Summer;13(2):275–285. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1980.13-275. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Kazdin A. E. The impact of applied behavior analysis on diverse areas of research. J Appl Behav Anal. 1975 Summer;8(2):213–229. doi: 10.1901/jaba.1975.8-213. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1978.29-347. [DOI] [PMC free article] [Google Scholar]
  11. Revusky S. H. Some statistical treatments compatible with individual organism methodology. J Exp Anal Behav. 1967 May;10(3):319–330. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1967.10-319. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Zimmerman E. H., Zimmerman J. The alteration of behavior in a special classroom situation. J Exp Anal Behav. 1962 Jan;5(1):59–60. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1962.5-59. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from The Behavior Analyst are provided here courtesy of Association for Behavior Analysis International

RESOURCES