Abstract
In this paper we present a formal specification of a traditionally informal domain of knowledge: the Behavior Analysis psychological theory. Our main objective is to highlight some motivations, issues, constructions and insights that, we believe, are particular to the task of formalizing a preexisting informal theory. In order to achieve this, we give a short introduction to Behavior Analysis and then explore in detail some fragments of the full specification, which is written using the Z formal method. With such a specification, we argue, one is in better position to implement a software system that relates to an actual psychological theory. Such relation could be useful, for instance, in the implementation of multi-agent simulators.
Keywords
- Conditioned Stimulus
- Formal Method
- Behavior Analysis
- Psychological Theory
- Operant Behavior
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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© 2007 Springer Berlin Heidelberg
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Salem da Silva, P., Vieira de Melo, A.C. (2007). A Simulation-Oriented Formalization for a Psychological Theory. In: Dwyer, M.B., Lopes, A. (eds) Fundamental Approaches to Software Engineering. FASE 2007. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol 4422. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71289-3_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-71289-3_5
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-71288-6
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-71289-3
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