Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB) refers to the scientific approach to studying behavior by examining its basic processes and principles in controlled settings. EAB involves systematic manipulation of variables to understand how environmental factors influence behavior. This method emphasizes the importance of direct observation, measurement, and experimentation to establish cause-and-effect relationships between behaviors and their antecedents or consequences.
Example
A researcher conducting an experimental analysis of behavior might examine the effects of varying schedules of reinforcementReinforcement is a fundamental concept in Applied Behavior A... on a rat pressing a lever for food. By systematically altering the reinforcement schedule (e.g., providing food after every lever press or after a fixed number of presses), the researcher can observe and measure changes in the rat’s behavior, such as how frequently it presses the lever under different conditions.