Statistical inference in behavior analysis: Friend or foe?

Journal/Book: Behav Anal. 1999; 22: Western Michigan Univ, 260 Wood Hall, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5052, USA. Soc Advancement Behavior Analysis. 83-85.

Abstract: Behavior analysts are undecided about the proper role to be played by inferential statistics in behavioral research. The traditional view, as expressed in Sidman's Tactics of Scientific Research (1960), was that inferential statistics has no place within a science that focuses on the steady-state behavior of individual organisms. Despite this admonition, there have been steady inroads of statistical techniques into behavior analysis since then, as evidenced by publications in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior. The issues raised by these developments were considered at a panel held at the 24th annual convention of the Association for Behavior Analysis, Orlando, Florida (May, 1998). The proceedings are reported in this and the following articles.

Note: Article Baron A, Univ Wisconsin, Dept Psychol, Milwaukee,WI 53201 USA

Keyword(s): research design; statistical inference; experimental control; single-subject design

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