[From Bruce Abbott (950607.1245 EST)]
Bill Powers (950606.1440 MDT) --
The main thing I get from your post is that if my interpretation of the
data is right, there is definitely a problem for reinforcement theory
and you would feel a considerable urge to make it go away.
Alternatively, if my interpretation of your interpretation is correct, there
is definitely a problem with your understanding of reinforcement theory and
I would feel a considerable urge to make THAT go away. (:->
Rick Marken (950606.1900)] --
Bruce Abbott (950606.1400 EST)
I realize that in the above description I have not done full justice to
either the reinforcement or PCT analysis of the experimental results as I
have not yet had a chance to think the problem through in detail, but I do
believe I have captured at least the essence of the explanation.
Actually, your description of a reinforcement analysis of behavior explains
quite a bit. When you know what to look for, controlled perceptions are
really quite obvious. Of course, Bill Powers (950606.1440 MDT) picked up
on it too:
The main thing I get from your post is that if my interpretation of the
data is right, there is definitely a problem for reinforcement theory
and you would feel a considerable urge to make it go away.
For some reason, I'm getting an echo in some of the csg-l posts I have been
receiving. Gary, perhaps you could check on it, it's wasting bandwidth.
O.K., O.K., you caught me. All this time I've been part of a top secret,
high-level plot to undermine PCT and reestablish traditional reinforcement
theory as the "top dog" in the field of learning and behavior (after we do
the same to cognitive theory, of course). It's been my job to infiltrate
CSG-L and discover, through carefully designed, probing attacks, the any
weaknesses that could be used, fairly or unfairly, to discredit perceptual
control theory and all those who espouse it. Yeah, yeah, that's the ticket!
Yeah, I'm a double agent, an' I get secret messages from B.F.S., who is, ah,
not really dead, see? Yeah, he's just lyin' low until the right moment,
ready to take over an' turn the world into one gigantic operant chamber,
see? An the only thing in our way is PCT (an' maybe them cognitive guys),
yeah, an' it's TOO LATE to stop us, we got guys all over CSG-L. Why do you
think you get so many arguments? In fact, we're ALL in on it, everyone
except Tom Bourbon, yeah, that's it, so we had RID of him. You're FINISHED,
see?
Rick Marken:
Actually, your description of a reinforcement analysis of behavior explains
quite a bit. When you know what to look for, controlled perceptions are
really quite obvious.
Bill Powers:
That's how the test for the
controlled variable works: you can't prove beyond doubt that a
particular variable is under control, but you can very quickly show that
it's not under control.
Hmmmm. Rick, you don't have a CLUE as to what my motives are.
Regards,
Burrhus, er, Bruce