Book | Chapter
(1988) Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Dordrecht, Springer.
This paper presents a metascientific study called systematology. The frame-of-reference, or the metatheory of systematology is briefly presented. It is then applied in an analysis of Skinner's philosophy and metatheory. Skinner's philosophy is found to be a version of materialistic monism and radical empiricism. Hence, Skinner's meta-theory precludes the application of intervening variables (or hypothetical constructs) of any kind. However, Skinner does use some intervening variables (without surplus meaning), the so-called "response probability'. But in accordance with his radical empiricism he is using the intervening variable very economically, and his theory is found to have the highest degree of testability.
Publication details
DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4612-3902-4_13
Full citation:
Madsen, K. B. (1988)., Skinner's philosophy and metatheory: a metatheoretical analysis, in L. Mos (ed.), Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Dordrecht, Springer, pp. 127-132.
This document is unfortunately not available for download at the moment.