Hypothetical Construct
Definition
An entity or process that is presumed to exist but has not been observed, invoked to explain behavior. Constructs are not forbidden in science, but behavior analysis is wary of them because they are easily mistaken for causes and cannot be manipulated directly.
In plain language
Something assumed to exist inside a person to explain what they do, even though no one has seen it. It cannot be changed directly.
Example
Describing a learner's difficulty as "low working memory capacity" invokes a construct rather than something a program can act on.
Not hypothetical construct
Describing the same difficulty as errors that rise when instructions have more than two steps. That is an observation, and it suggests what to change.
See also
Written from
- skinner-1953
Written from Skinner (1953) and general philosophy of science. No textbook glossary consulted.
This entry has not yet been through clinical review. Treat it as a draft.