Science

The speaker introduces the topic of the purpose of science, emphasizing its importance in a behavior analysis program. Behavior analysis is described as a 'hard science,' akin to physics, focusing on the experimental analysis of behavior. The field is deeply rooted in scientific research, making it crucial to understand the foundational concepts of what it means to be scientific.

Science is defined by its core purposes: description, prediction, and control. This framework has been developed through extensive work, building a robust body of evidence for understanding and managing behavior. It started with early experiments involving animals like rats and pigeons but is fully applicable to humans, treating behavior as a legitimate scientific subject.

The first step in science is description. This involves simply observing and describing phenomena without necessarily manipulating variables or setting up experiments. Description is crucial when encountering something new, allowing us to understand its characteristics, much like describing a tree for the first time. Quality description lays the groundwork for accurate prediction.

Once phenomena are well-described, science moves to prediction. This stage involves understanding the variables that influence events, allowing us to anticipate what will happen in certain scenarios. While the idea of 'prediction and control' might sound ominous, scientists use it to design experiments and form hypotheses about future outcomes under specific conditions.

The final and most advanced level of science is control. This involves hard-nosed experimentation to precisely understand how tweaking one variable affects outcomes. An example is given: If the camera moves closer, the speaker becomes more intense. Through observation, prediction, and testing, one can learn to control this response. This progression from observation (description) to relational research (prediction) to experimental design (control) is the goal of human behavior science.