With an emphasis on practical solutions to behavior problems, Chance offers an unparalleled approach to behavior
analysis. Creating a simulated classroom, course content is presented by "Dr. Cee" - a fictitious instructor
who interacts with equally fictitious students. Through Dr. Cee, Chance teaches the language of behavior theory
and analysis as well as the most important procedures for changing behavior and the principles that underlay those
procedures. The dialogue between Dr. Cee and the students is realistic; the students ask questions, giving readers
a chance to see if they know the answer to the questions raised. Effective and engaging, Chance's Socratic approach
is very readable, yet does not sacrifice accuracy and specificity.
Each chapter ends with a comprehensive Review and a number of Handouts. The Handouts are similar to items instructors
typically provide to students, such as exercises, journal reprints, reading lists, and end notes.
Several chapters include a "mini-essay" by the author on a narrowly defined topic. For example, the
introductory chapter includes a mini-essay on three assumptions underlying behavior analysis, and an essay in the
methods chapter describes ways of measuring behavior change.
"Feed the Skeleton" exercises at the end of each chapter provide an interactive examination of the
concepts presented. The student's task is to put some "meat" on the skeleton by filling in the missing
material. They can then go back and check their answers against their notes.
Chance uses a minimum of jargon, writing in simple declarative sentences.
Each procedure (reinforcement, extinction, etc.) is exemplified with research and case studies. Chance also
includes studies in which the intervention failed or was not entirely successful. This conveys to students the
reality that solving behavior problems is not always as easy as textbooks make it seem.
Each behavior change procedure (reinforcement, extinction, etc.) is exemplified with research and case studies.
Chance concludes studies in which the therapist or trainer ran into difficulties or the intervention was not brilliantly
successful; this conveys to students the fact that solving behavior problems is not always as easy as many textbooks
make it seem.
Chapter include material reprinted from classic or particularly interesting articles related to the chapter
topic. Examples include Carl D. Williams's "The Elimination of Tantrum Behavior by Extinction Procedures,"
and excerpts from "An Implicit Technology of Generalization," by T.F. Stokes and D.M. Baer.
The final chapter provides a review of the entire text and comprehensive final examination.
Table of Contents
PART I. INTRODUCTION.
Chapter 1. The ABC'S of Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavior Analysis.
Applied Behavior Analysis.
Caveat : Daniel's Dictum.
Review.
Exercises.
Mini Essay : Behaviorism and Behavior Analysis. Reprint : A Behaviorist's Feelings by B.F. Skinner.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Chapter 2. Methods in Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavioral Assessment.
Recording Behavior Rates.
Measuring the Reliability of Rate Data.
Graphing Behavior Rates.
Evaluating the Effects of an Intervention.
Review.
Exercises.
Mini Essay : Measuring Behavior Change.
Reprint : The Queen's Scepter by Eric Haughton and Teodoro Ayllon.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
PART II. INCREASING THE FREQUENCY OF BEHAVIOR.
Chapter 3. Reinforcement
Law of Effect.
Kinds of Reinforcers.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Using Reinforcement.
Problems with Reinforcement.
Review.
Exercises.
Mini-Essay : Finding Reinforcers.
Reprint : The Rewards of Coaching by Hilary Buzas and Teodoro Ayllon.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Chapter 4. Prompting and Fading
Prompts.
Prompting and Fading. Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Prompting and Fading.
Problems with Prompting and Fading.
Review.
Exercises. Reprint : Rules to Live By by B.F. Skinner.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Chapter 5. Shaping and Chaining
Shaping Defined.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Shaping.
Chaining Defined.
Illustrative Study.
Rules for Chaining.
Shaping versus Chaining.
Review.
Exercises.
Mini-Essay : The Third Revolution.
Reprint : Shaping Sight by Judith R. Mathews, Gary D. Hodson, William B. Christ, A and G. Robert LaRoche.
Reprint : Chained Routine by Melvyn Hollander and Vivian Horner.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
PART III. DECREASING THE FREQUENCY OF BEHAVIOR.
Chapter 6. Extinction and Differential Reinforcement
Extinction Defined.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Using Extinction/Problems with Extinction.
Differential Reinforcement Defined.
Kinds of Differential Reinforcement.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Using Differential Reinforcement.
Review.
Exercises.
Reprint : Extinguished Tears by Carl D. Williams.
Reprint : Exorcising a Witch by Brad A. Alford.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Chapter 7. Punishment
Punishment.
Kinds of Punishment.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules of Using Punishment.
Problems with Punishment.
Review.
Exercises.
Mini-Essay : Questioning Punishment.
Reprint : Time Out for Hallucinations by Steve N. Haynes and Pamela Geddy.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Generalization.
Illustrative Studies.
Rules for Increasing Generalization.
Review.
Exercises.
Reprint : A Technology of Generalization by Trevor F. Stokes and Donald M. Baer.
Pavlovian Procedures.
Desensitization Training.
Sensitization Training.
Rules for Counterconditioning.
Review.
Exercises.
Reprint : Old Obsessions by John E. Calamari, Samantha D. Faber, Brian L. Hitsman, and Christopher J. Poppe.
Recommended Reading. Endnotes.
PART VII : ETHICS AND THE FUTURE.
Chapter 12. The Ethics of Behavior Change and the Future of Behavior Analysis
Ethics of Changing Behavior.
Future of Behavior Analysis.
Review.
Exercises.
Reprint : Right to Effective Treatment by Ron Van Houten and the Task Force on the Right to Effective Treatment.
Recommended Reading.
Endnotes.
Chapter 13. Review and Sham Exam
The ABC's.
Methods.
Reinforcement.
Prompting and Fading.
Shaping and Chinning.
Extinction and Differential Reinforcement.
Punishment.
Discrimination Training.
Generalization Training.
Maintenance.
Counterconditioning.
Ethics and the Future of Behavior Analysis.
Sham Exam.
