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DOCUMENTS
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Behavioral
Contingency Analysis: A formal symbolic language for the analysis of
complex
contingencies
This PDF of the
PowerPoint
presentation requires no special background and is designed to be
accessible to anyone. It explains the purpose and features of the
formal language for codifying and analyzing behavioral contingencies
and illustrates some of its potential areas of application. The Table
of Contents on slide three lists the general topics that this
presentation covers. More detailed and complete presentations of the
language and its applications can be found in the published papers
below.
Anatomy
of Deception: A
Behavioral Contingency Analysis
F. Mechner, 2010.
Deception, a basic
biological function of most forms of life, is analyzed in terms
of its behavioral contingency components. The analysis
focuses on types of deception that are prevalent in human affairs,
including interpersonal relationships and economics, and shows how
diverse forms of deception can be categorized according to whether they
are disadvantageous to the deceived or not, direct or indirect, based
on misperception, non-perception or misprediction, whether the agent of
deception is animate or inanimate, and, if animate, whether the
deception is intentional or unintentional, gradual, or sudden.
Analyzing
Variable Behavioral Contingencies: Are Certain Complex Skills
Homologous With Locomotion?
F. Mechner, 2009.
This is the PDF file of
the published paper:
Mechner, F. (2009). Analyzing variable behavioral contingencies: Are
certain complex skills homologous with locomotion? Behavioral Processes, 81, 316-321.
It shows how behavioral contingency
analysis can demonstrate that locomotion behavior is the phylogenetic
ancestor and biological homologue of certain complex verbal processes
such as reading or copying. More broadly it illustrates how
behavioral contingency analysis can show how behavioral phenomena that
may seem to be unrelated actually involve the same underlying
behavioral processes.
Behavioral
Contingency Analysis
F. Mechner, 2008.
This is the PDF file of
the published paper:
Mechner, F. (2008). Behavioral contingency analysis. Behavioral Processes, 78, 124-144.
A more detailed treatment of the subject of this paper, with an
expanded range of examples, is provided in the paper "Applications of
the Language for Codifying Behavioral Continencies," available below.
Applications
of the Language for Codifying Behavioral
Contingencies
F. Mechner, 2008.
This is an expanded
version of the paper "Behavioral Contingency Analysis" published in
Behavioral Processes (PDF version available above). It presents a
formal language for the codification of behavioral contingencies, and
illustrates the application of this language to the analysis of
behavioral contingencies in such diverse fields as economics, law,
business management, clinical psychology, education, public affairs,
games, and military planning.
The
paper
represents a
comprehensive update of the Mechner Notation System presented in “A
notation
system for the description of behavioral procedures" (JEAB, 1959), and
the 1966
Weingarten and Mechner paper “The contingency as an independent
variable of
social interaction,” both of which are available for downloading on
this website.
Review
of "In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a
New Science of Mind" by Eric R. Kandel
F. Mechner, 2008.
This is the PDF file
of the published paper:
Mechner, F. (2008). An invitation to behavior analysts: Review of In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a
New Science of Mind by Eric R. Kandel. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of
Behavior, 90, 235-248.
It discusses the reasons
why the study of this book can be valuable to behavior analysts.
It analyses and attempts to bring into perspective criticisms that have
been leveled against certain aspects of the language used by some
neuroscientists, opportunities for productive collaboration between
behavior analysts and neuroscientists, the value of heuristics put
forward by Kandel for locating important research problems, and the
lessons that can be gleaned from the book for recognizing potentially
great achievers and for producing good scientists.
Summary
of Neuroscience Information in "In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a
New Science of Mind" by Eric R. Kandel
F. Mechner, 2008.
This summary of
neuroscience information covered in Eric R. Kandel’s book In Search of Memory: The Emergence of a
New Science of Mind is presented in a dry style for reference
purposes only. It omits many of the explanatory details and colorful
background and historical information that can be found in the book.
Learning
and Practicing Skilled Performance.
F. Mechner, 1994. The Mechner Foundation
website.
This book develops a theory and technology
of skilled performance, based on research in psychology and physiology.
Examples are drawn from various performance disciplines, with special
emphasis on pianism. It is 101 pages in length and can be downloaded.
View TABLE
OF
CONTENTS Download
FULL BOOK
Review
of "Blindfold Chess: History, Psychology, Techniques, Champions, World
Records and Important Games" by Eliot Hearst and John Knott
F. Mechner, 2010.
This review discusses
the book as not only the definitive work on the topic, but also an
important examination of blindfold chess as it relates to perception
and imagery research. The review also proposes a new way to
measure skill and knowledge in choice situations, loosely based on a
1951 proposal by Claude Shannon. The usual measures of skill and
knowledge reflect practical performance results, but such measures are
typically confounded by extraneous variables. The proposed system
provides a pure, general measure of any type of knowledge or skill that
involves choice -- a "power" measure based on the determination of the
shortfall from a theoretical maximum.
The Revealed Operant: A Way to Study the
Characteristics of Individual Occurrences of Operant Responses
F. Mechner, et al., 1994. Cambridge Center
for
Behavioral Studies Monograph Series.
The "revealed operant" is intended as a
laboratory research model of any operant response. Its purpose is to
permit the internal structure and properties of operants to be recorded
and studied. With Commentaries by Donald M. Baer, M. Jackson Marr, John
A. Nevin, and Thom Verhave. DOWNLOAD
What
Are the Effects of Reinforcer Presentations?
F. Mechner, 1994. Cambridge Center for
Behavioral Studies Monograph Series.
Chapter 9 of the monograph The Revealed
Operant: A Way to Study the Characteristics of Individual Occurrences
of Operant Responses (available in full above). This chapter
develops the thesis that the usual effect of a reinforcer is not to
increase the strength of the preceding behavior, but rather to
perpetuate its direction of change. The Foundation is currently
conducting a research program to address this issue experimentally,
using shaping procedures for various types of revealed operants. DOWNLOAD
Methodological Points for Behavioral
Scientists
F. Mechner, 1993. The Mechner Foundation
website.
This paper discusses the status of
hypothetical constructs, models, and explanatory
fictions in science generally, and in psychology in particular. It
explores possible reasons
why the problem is particularly insidious in the behavioral sciences. DOWNLOAD
A
New Approach to Programmed Instruction
F. Mechner, 1977. The Mechner Foundation
website.
Programmed instruction was defined in the
early 1960s as using active response by the
learner, immediate confirmation of correct responses, and successive
approximations
towards the knowledge to be learned. This paper, written in 1977,
proposes some newer and presumably more effective techniques of
programmed instruction and the theoretical
justification of those techniques. DOWNLOAD
The Contingency as an Independent Variable of
Social Interaction
K. Weingarten & F. Mechner, 1966. T.
Verhave (Ed.), Readings in the experimental analysis of behavior.
This paper shows how the Mechner notation
system can be applied to behavioral
contingencies that involve the interactions of two or more individuals
in such dynamics as cooperation, competition (both for individuals and
groups) economic interactions, blackmail, flattery, insults, etc. DOWNLOAD
MUSIC
Mechner's involvements with music have included piano
performance, composition, study and analysis of certain piano pieces in
the classical repertory, and the theory and technology of effective
practicing.
The 2005 Mechner Piano
Recital (tracks below) illustrates
Mechner's approach to the performance of seven pieces from the
classical piano repertory. To download a track (instead of
opening a new window to play it online), right click on
its name and select "Save Link As...".
1.
Introduction to Turkish Rondo
2.
Mozart: Turkish Rondo from Sonata in A
3.
Introduction to Sonata Pathetique
4.
Beethoven: Sonata Pathetique, 2nd Movement
5.
Introduction to Minuet from French Suite
6.
Bach: Minuet from French Suite in B Minor
7.
Introduction to Fantasy Impromptu
8.
Chopin: Fantasy Impromptu
9.
Introduction to Waltz in E Minor
10.
Chopin: Waltz in E Minor
11.
Introduction to Impromptu in E Flat
12.
Schubert: Impromptu in E Flat
13.
Introduction to Nocturne in C Sharp Minor
14.
Chopin: Nocturne in C Sharp Minor
In the download "Learning and Practicing Skilled Performance"
(in Documents, above), the general principles and technology presented
are based on piano learning and practicing, and make frequent
references to the piano pedagogy literature.
Mechner composed the soundtracks for two of his son Jordan
Mechner's best-selling computer games -- Karateka, published in 1984,
and the original (1989-1991) versions of the Prince of Persia
games. Midi files of some of the themes from the original Prince
of Persia are available below (to download a track, right click on its
name and select "Save Link As...").
Prologue
Prince
Princess
Heart
Death
Victory
Epilogue
SOFTWARE
Revealed Operant using Keystrokes
Software for designing and programming experiments
using a revealed operant that
consists of sequences of keystrokes on a computer keyboard. This
software, developed by
David A. Mechner, functions like a menu for the design of experiments
that use this type of revealed operant. The experimenter can specify
dozens of parameters for a wide range of experiments.
System requirements: Windows 95 or newer, VGA monitor. DOWNLOAD
Revealed Operant using Graphics Tablet
This software, developed by Martin Silbernagl, is used
to design and program experiments using a revealed operant that
consists of drawing lines on a graphics tablet. Available parameters
include the length and slope of the drawn lines, the speed with which
they are drawn, and the pressure applied to the stylus. The software
can be used to design a wide variety of experiments that use this type
of operant.
System requirements: Windows 95 or newer, VGA monitor. DOWNLOAD
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