Textbook Analysis
JOURNAL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF BEHAVIOR
1968, 11, 641-649
NUMBER
5
(SEPTEMBER)
PRINCIPLES OF TEXTBOOK ANALYSIS A Review of J. R. Millenson 's Principles of Behavioral Analysis. ' T. VERHAVE2 AND J. GILMOUR SHERMAN
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Most textbooks in psychology, and particularly the eclectic survey, are probably best placed in the second category because they do not provide any new organization of a coherent body of information. Some introductory texts, however, take a systematic approach, and belong to the third category. Such is J. R. Millenson 's Principles of Behavioral Analysis, which provides an updated version of a previously successful systematic treatment (Keller and Schoenfeld, 1950). The principal task for an introductory course in any science must be as clear and dedicated a presentation of fundamental concepts and theories as an author can muster. Even if a field is still relatively immature and undeveloped, a firm knowledge of fundamentals must be the basis for whatever is to be accomplished, either in subsequent courses, or [1950]). (3) It can provide a new organization of ex- by later generations.inIt a is neither surprising more or less unexisting information (for example, Keller nor alarming that, plored domain, there should be different and Schoenfeld 's Principles of Psycholview, vocabularies, and schools of ogy [1950] or Galanter 's Textbook of points ofNo thought. doubt, the relative maturity of a Elementary Psychology [1961]). science is indicated by the extent to which (4) It can present conventional material in a new mode, as did the programmed such heterogeneity of treatment exists. However, by not presenting an encyclopedic text by Holland and Skinner (1961). account, whether superficial or detailed, but (5) Finally, there are the subsidiary books, such as collections of readings, labora- by concentrating instead on the power, meantory manuals, and brief primers, all of ing, and scope of a limited number
1968, 11, 641-649
NUMBER
5
(SEPTEMBER)
PRINCIPLES OF TEXTBOOK ANALYSIS A Review of J. R. Millenson 's Principles of Behavioral Analysis. ' T. VERHAVE2 AND J. GILMOUR SHERMAN
ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY
Most textbooks in psychology, and particularly the eclectic survey, are probably best placed in the second category because they do not provide any new organization of a coherent body of information. Some introductory texts, however, take a systematic approach, and belong to the third category. Such is J. R. Millenson 's Principles of Behavioral Analysis, which provides an updated version of a previously successful systematic treatment (Keller and Schoenfeld, 1950). The principal task for an introductory course in any science must be as clear and dedicated a presentation of fundamental concepts and theories as an author can muster. Even if a field is still relatively immature and undeveloped, a firm knowledge of fundamentals must be the basis for whatever is to be accomplished, either in subsequent courses, or [1950]). (3) It can provide a new organization of ex- by later generations.inIt a is neither surprising more or less unexisting information (for example, Keller nor alarming that, plored domain, there should be different and Schoenfeld 's Principles of Psycholview, vocabularies, and schools of ogy [1950] or Galanter 's Textbook of points ofNo thought. doubt, the relative maturity of a Elementary Psychology [1961]). science is indicated by the extent to which (4) It can present conventional material in a new mode, as did the programmed such heterogeneity of treatment exists. However, by not presenting an encyclopedic text by Holland and Skinner (1961). account, whether superficial or detailed, but (5) Finally, there are the subsidiary books, such as collections of readings, labora- by concentrating instead on the power, meantory manuals, and brief primers, all of ing, and scope of a limited number
Bibliography: Aristotle. De mnotu animalium. In W. D. Ross (Ed.)., The works of Aristotle, Vol. 5. 11 Vols.; New York: Oxford University Press, 1908-1931. Bernstein, B. J. (Ed.). Towards a new past: dissenting essays in American history. New York: Pantheon, 1967. Boring, E. G. A history of experimental psychology (1929). 2nd ed.; New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, 1950. Brett, G. S. A history of psychology. 3 Vols.; London: Allen and Unwin, 1912-1921 (New York: Macmillan). Clagett, M. The science of mechanics in the middle Ages. London: Madison, 1959. Cofer, C. H. and Appley, M. H. Motivation: theory and research. New York: Wiley, 1964. Crombie, A. C. Medieval and early modern science. 2 Vols.; Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1959. Crozier, W. J. The study of living organisms. In C. Murchison (Ed.), The foundations of experimental psychology. Worcester, Mass.: Clark University Press, 1929. Chapter 2. Pp. 45-127. BOOK REVIEW Preyer, W. T. Die Seele des Kindes (The Mind of the Child). Leipzig: Fernau, 1881. Randall, J. H., Jr. Aristotle. New York: Columbia University Press, 1960. Reynolds, G. S. A primer of operant conditioning. Glenview, Ill.: Scott, Foresman, 1968. Shute, C. The psychology of Aristotle: an analysis of the living being. New York: Columbia University Press, 1941. Skinner, B. F. The concept of the reflex in the description of behavior. Journal of General Psychology, 1931, 5, 427-458. Skinner, B. F. The generic nature of the concepts of stimulus and response. Journal of General Psychology, 1935, 12, 40-65. Skinner, B. F. The behavior of organisms: an experimental analysis. New York: Appleton-CenturyCrofts, 1938. Skinner, B. F. Are theories of learning necessary? Psychological Review, 1950, 57, 193-216. Skinner, B. F. Science and human behavior. New York: Macmillan, 1953. Sokolov, R. A. Attacking sacred cows. Newsweek, April 22, 1968, pp. 99-102. Stebbins, W. C. and Lanson, R. H. A technique for measuring the latency of a discriminative operant. 649 Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, 1961, 4, 149-155. Taylor, L. W. Physics: the pioneer science. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1941. Toulmin, S. and Goodfield, J. The architecture of matter. New York: Harper & Row, 1962. Verhave, T. Joseph Buchanan (1785-1829) and the 'Law of Exercise ' (1812). Psychological Reports, 1967, 20, 127-133. Washburn, M. F. The animal mind: a textbook of comparative psychology. New York: Macmillan, 1908. Watson, R. I. The great psychologists from Aristotle to Freud. Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1963. Whitehead, A. N. The aims of education. New York: Macmillan, 1929. Wike, E. L. Secondary reinforcement: selected experiments. New York: Harper & Row, 1966. Wilson, M. P. Periodic reinforcement interval and number of periodic reinforcements as parameters of response strength. Journal of Comparative and Physiological Psychology, 1954, 47, 51-56. Woodrow, H. The problem of general quantitative laws in psychology. Psychological Bulletin, 1942, 39, 1-27.