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Science behind behavior modification
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Decisions are made by logical people when they choose facts and science over emotions. Lets study together
sci·ence/ˈsīən(t)s/
noun
.the systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation, experimentation, and the testing of theories against the evidence obtained."the world of science and technology"
What is involved in a study?
A scientific study involves a systematic process of asking a question, conducting background research, forming a testable hypothesis, conducting an experiment to test the hypothesis, analyzing the results, and communicating the conclusions. This scientific method is a structured way to objectively investigate phenomena based on observable and measurable evidence. The steps of a scientific study
- Ask a question: Begin by observing something in the world and forming a question you want to answer.
- Do background research: Investigate what is already known about the topic to gain a better understanding.
- Formulate a hypothesis: Create a testable explanation or educated guess to answer your question. This is often a prediction of what you expect to happen.
- Design and conduct an experiment: Develop an experiment to test your hypothesis. This involves identifying and controlling variables.
- Analyze the data: Collect and interpret the data from your experiment, often by organizing it into tables or graphs.
- Draw a conclusion: Determine whether your results support or reject your hypothesis. Either outcome provides valuable information.
- Communicate the results: Share your findings with others, which can include writing a report or presenting your work.
What is a code of ethics in studies?
A code of ethics in a scientific study is a set of guidelines that ensures responsible and integrity-driven research by establishing principles for conduct, protecting participants, and maintaining the trustworthiness of the scientific process. Key principles include honesty in reporting, avoiding harm and deception, obtaining informed consent, ensuring confidentiality and anonymity, and distributing benefits fairly. Key principles and guidelines
- Honesty and integrity: Researchers must report data, results, and methods accurately without fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation. They should also be honest in communications with colleagues, sponsors, and the public.
- Participant protection: This involves protecting the human rights and well-being of research participants.
- Informed consent: Potential participants must be fully informed about the study and voluntarily agree to participate.
- Confidentiality and anonymity: The privacy of participants' data must be protected.
- Minimizing harm: Researchers should strive to minimize any potential harm to participants.
- Beneficence and non-maleficence: Research should aim to promote good and avoid causing harm.
- Justice: The benefits and burdens of research should be distributed fairly among different groups.
- Objectivity and care: Strive to avoid bias in research design and analysis, and avoid careless errors by carefully examining one's own work and that of others.
- Responsibility: This includes responsible publication to advance knowledge, proper attribution and respect for intellectual property, and respecting colleagues.
- Openness: Share data, results, and ideas with others to foster scientific progress.
Why it is important
- Protects participants: It ensures that the people involved in a study are treated with respect and dignity.
- Maintains public trust: Following ethical guidelines builds and maintains public trust in science and its findings.
- Ensures validity: Adhering to ethical principles helps to ensure the validity and reliability of research outcomes.
- Guides researchers: It provides a framework for navigating the complex ethical decisions that arise during the research process.
Who has done studies to date and on what subjects?
Key figures and their contributions
- B.F. Skinner: A psychologist whose work on operant conditioning provided the theoretical foundation for shaping animal behavior through reinforcement.
- Keller and Marian Breland: Skinner's students who applied his principles to train animals for commercial purposes, including in their own business, Animal Behavior Enterprises.
- Bob Bailey: A biologist and trainer who built on the work of the Brelands and Skinner, applying their methods to a diverse range of animals, including dolphins, rats, and ravens.
- Temple Grandin: An academic, inventor, and ethologist who has significantly contributed to the humane treatment of livestock. She is a consultant to the livestock industry and has published numerous scientific papers on animal behavior.
- Konrad Lorenz, Nikolaas Tinbergen, and Karl von Frisch: Nobel Prize winners who were pioneers in ethology, the study of animal behavior in natural environments. They emphasized the importance of both learned and instinctive behaviors.
- Iver Iversen: A professor of experimental psychology whose research focuses on the basic mechanisms of operant behavior in animals.
A scientist who studies animals and their behavior is called an ethologist. While a zoologist studies all aspects of animal life, an ethologist specifically focuses on animal behavior, often in the animal's natural habitat.
- Ethologist: A scientist who specializes in the study of animal behavior, looking at why animals behave the way they do and how behaviors like communication, foraging, and reproduction have evolved.