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Cited by 378Behavioral and Psychological StudiesAcademic and Historical Perspectives in PsychologyCategorization, perception, and language

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 116 of the 116 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

An operant analysis of problem solving

Skinner, B. F.·1984·Behavioral and Brain Sciences
DOI 10.1017/s0140525x00027412
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Abstract

Behavior that solves a problem is distinguished by the fact that it changes another part of the solver's behavior and is strengthened when it does so. Problem solving typically involves the construction of discriminative stimuli. Verbal responses produce especially useful stimuli, because they affect other people. As a culture formulates maxims, laws, grammar, and science, its members behave more effectively without direct or prolonged contact with the contingencies thus formulated. The culture solves problems for its members, and does so by transmitting the verbal discriminative stimuli called rules. Induction, deduction, and the construction of models are ways of producing rules. Behavior that solves a problem may result from direct shaping by contingencies or from rules constructed either by the problem solver or by others. Because different controlling variables are involved, contingency-shaped behavior is never exactly like rule-governed behavior. The distinction must take account of (1) a system which establishes certain contingencies of reinforcement, such as some part of the natural environment, a piece of equipment, or a verbal community; (2) the behavior shaped and maintained by these contingencies; (3) rules, derived from the contingencies, which specify discriminative stimuli, responses, and consequences, and (4) the behavior occasioned by the rules.

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Citations

Cites

Show all 116 references

Research works printed but not linked: 28

  1. Einhorn, 1983, Diagnostic inference and causal judgment: A decision making framework
  2. Dennett, 1978, Brainstorms
  3. Seandura, 1977, Problem solving
  4. Pelham G. F. (1982) The psychological writings of B. F. Skinner. Doctoral dissertation, University of Bradford, England. [RH]
  5. Skinner, 1968, The technology of teaching
  6. Dodwell, 1977, Criteria for a neuropsychological theory of perception, Cahiers de psychologic, 20, 175
  7. Grossberg, 1983, Perception of speech and visual form: Theoretical issues, models, and research
  8. Raaheim, 1961, Problem solving: A new approach, Acta Universitatis Bergensis, Series Humaniorum Litterarum, 5
  9. Harris, 1980, Visual coding and adaptibility
  10. Paige, 1966, Problem solving: Research, method, and theory
  11. Adrian, 1928, The basis of sensations: The action of the sense organs
  12. Bunge, 1968, Scientific research, vol. 2, The search for truth
  13. Camerer C. F. (1981) The validity and utility of expert judgment. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Chicago. [RMH]
  14. Fodor, 1981, Representations
  15. Hunt E. & Pixton P. (1982) A general model for simulating information processing experiments. Proceedings of the 4th Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society, pp. 164–66. [EH]
  16. Marr, 1982, Vision
  17. Näätänen, 1980, Progress in brain research, vol. 54, Motivation, motor and sensory processes of the brain
  18. Polanyi, 1960, Personal knowledge
  19. Popper, 1963, Conjectives and refutations: The growth of scientific knowledge
  20. Seandura, 1976, Structural learning, vol. 2, Issues and approaches
  21. Skinner, 1966, The behavior of organisms
  22. Skinner, 1974, About behaviorism
  23. Skinner, 1983, A matter of consequences
  24. Stinessen L. (1983) Intentionality, problem solving, and rule-governed behavior. Doctoral dissertation, University of Trondheim. [JGR]
  25. Bacon, 1620, Novum organum
  26. Seandura, 1982, Structural (cognitive task) analysis. I. Background and empirical research, Journal of Structural Learning, 7, 101
  27. Einhorn, 1980, New directions for methodology of social and behavioral science: Fallible judgment in behavioral research, 4
  28. Verplanck, 1962, Behavior and awareness

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Metadata

Authors
Skinner, B. F.
Affiliations
Harvard University (US)
Corresponding author
Skinner, B. F.
ORCID
Skinner, B. F.
Venue
Behavioral and Brain Sciences
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Published
1984-12
Volume
7
Issue
4
Pages
583-591
ISSN
  • 0140-525X (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-1825
DOI
10.1017/s0140525x00027412
OpenAlex
W2115103704
Cited by
378
References
116
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 13
FWCI
5.03
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 9196 d)
Locations
Behavioral and Brain Sciences (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Behavioral and Psychological Studies
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › General Psychology › Academic and Historical Perspectives in Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Categorization, perception, and language
Keywords
problem solving, rule-governed behavior, discriminative stimulus, verbal behavior, induction and deduction, models

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