Quantified trends in the history of verbal behavior research

Abstract

The history of scientific research about verbal behavior research, especially that based on Verbal Behavior (Skinner, 1957), can be assessed on the basis of a frequency and celeration analysis of the published and presented literature. In order to discover these quantified trends, a comprehensive bibliographical database was developed. Based on several literature searches, the bibliographic database included papers pertaining to verbal behavior that were published in the Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, Behaviorism, The Behavior Analyst, and The Analysis of Verbal Behavior. A nonbehavioral journal, the Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior was assessed as a nonexample comparison. The bibliographic database also included a listing of verbal behavior papers presented at the meetings of the Association for Behavior Analysis. Papers were added to the database if they (a) were about verbal behavior, (b) referenced B.F. Skinner's (1957) book Verbal Behavior, or (c) did both. Because the references indicated the year of publication or presentation, a count per year of them was measured. These yearly frequencies were plotted on Standard Celeration Charts. Once plotted, various celeration trends in the literature became visible, not the least of which was the greater quantity of verbal behavior research than is generally acknowledged. The data clearly show an acceleration of research across the past decade. The data also question the notion that a "paucity" of research based on Verbal Behavior currently exists. Explanations of the acceleration of verbal behavior research are suggested, and plausible reasons are offered as to why a relative lack of verbal behavior research extended through the mid 1960s to the latter 1970s.

Self-editing: On the relation between behavioral and psycholinguistic approaches

“…In the search for constructive strategies, it is clear what does not work. History shows that little is accomplished by arguing that those who disregard behavior theory simply misunderstand the relevant principles (see Hineline, 1980;MacCorquodale, 1970; also see Dulany;Kanfer;Maltzman, 1968), especially when, as appears to be convention, such arguments are logical rather than empirical in nature, and are promulgated in behavior-analytic outlets that are unlikely to reach the community of cognitive and psycholinguistic scholars (e.g., Donahoe, 1998;Eshleman, 1991;Hineline;Hutchinson, 1998;MacCorquodale;Morgan & Buskist, 1990;Newland, 1992;Place, 1991;Richelle, 1976;Salzinger, 1991;Schnaitter, 1986;Stemmer, 1992). 9 Social psychology teaches that nothing breaks down stereotyping and prejudice like collaborative effort toward shared goals.…”

Crucial Issues in the Applied Analysis of Verbal Behavior: Reflections on Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When the Stakes Are High

“…If you really want to become depressed, use as a frame of reference the number of research articles in social psychology on topics such as impression formation and other forms of affiliation. I confess that other commentators are more sanguine in their appraisals of existing verbal behavior research (e.g., Eshleman, 1991;Petursdottir et al;Sautter & LeBlanc, 2006;Schlinger, 2008), but probably no one disagrees with the notion that we need much more behavioral research on verbal phenomena.…”

O estudo do comportamento verbal no Brasil

“…Revisões de literatura (Andery, 2001;Eshleman, 1991;Normand, Fossa, & Poling, 2002) foram realizadas com o objetivo de caracterizar as pesquisas -sobre comportamento verbalpublicadas em diferentes periódicos americanos. Eshleman (1991) e Normand et al (2002) apontaram que poucos estudos sobre comportamento verbal foram realizados nas duas primeiras décadas após a publicação do livro Verbal Behavior (1957Behavior ( /1992. No entanto, a partir de 1980, o número de pesquisas na área passou a aumentar de forma sistemática, consolidando um importante campo de pesquisa na Análise do Comportamento.…”