J Exp Anal Behav. 1984 Nov;42(3):421-34. doi: 10.1901/jeab.1984.42-421.
Quantitative analysis permits the isolation of invariant relations in the study of behavior. The parameters of these relations can serve as higher-order dependent variables in more extensive analyses. These points are illustrated by reference to quantitative descriptions of performance maintained by concurrent schedules, multiple schedules, and signal-detection procedures. Such quantitative descriptions of empirical data may be derived from mathematical theories, which in turn can lead to novel empirical analyses so long as their terms refer to behavioral and environmental events. Thus, quantitative analysis is an integral aspect of the experimental analysis of behavior.
定量分析可以在行为研究中分离出不变关系。这些关系的参数可以作为更广泛分析中的高阶因变量。通过参考同时性程序、多重程序和信号检测程序维持的表现的定量描述来阐明这些观点。这样的经验数据的定量描述可以从数学理论中推导出来,只要它们的术语指的是行为和环境事件,反过来,这些理论又可以导致新的经验分析。因此,定量分析是行为实验分析的一个组成部分。