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4 - Basic Research on Purpose

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 February 2021

Richard S. Marken
Affiliation:
University of California, Los Angeles
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Summary

Basic research on purpose is aimed at testing the PCT model of purposeful behavior. These tests are performed to validate detailed predictions about the relationships between the variables involved in purposeful behavior. The main focus of the research is testing for controlled variables using some version of the TCV. Laboratory tests for the controlled variable are typically conducted using versions of the compensatory tracking task, where all of the variables involved in the behavior can be readily identified and monitored. Other approaches to testing for controlled variables in the laboratory have used operant conditioning tasks which have been set up so that the system under study is capable of controlling the consequences of its actions. It is also possible to do basic research on purpose in more naturalistic settings outside the laboratory, which allows the study of more “realistic” behaviors.

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Chapter
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The Study of Living Control Systems
A Guide to Doing Research on Purpose
, pp. 48 - 67
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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  • Basic Research on Purpose
  • Richard S. Marken, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Study of Living Control Systems
  • Online publication: 02 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108752138.005
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  • Basic Research on Purpose
  • Richard S. Marken, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Study of Living Control Systems
  • Online publication: 02 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108752138.005
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Basic Research on Purpose
  • Richard S. Marken, University of California, Los Angeles
  • Book: The Study of Living Control Systems
  • Online publication: 02 February 2021
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108752138.005
Available formats
×