Discovering more about human and animal behavior
PORTL is a tabletop game that provides an interactive environment for learning about behavior principles and investigating behavioral phenomena. It is played using a collection of small objects, a clicker to select behavior, and small blocks as reinforcers. It can be used for teaching, inquiry, and research. … Read more
In this webinar, Mary Hunter chatted with Cameron Scallan, BCBA, and Dr. Jesús Rosales-Ruiz about their recently published article: “The Constructional Approach: A Compassionate Approach to Behavior Change.” They discussed what it means to be compassionate, what it means to be constructional, and why all of this matters. We hope you enjoy the recording! Webinar … Read more
In this webinar, Dr. Rosales-Ruiz shared some of his favorite stories from his time working with Dr. Ogden Lindsley. He discussed what it was like working with Ogden, how to think about research, Ogden’s ideas about movement cycles and conditioned reinforcers, the acronym MUSIC, and more. He even explained why you shouldn’t milk a chicken! … Read more
In May 2022, as part of the 48th annual ABAI convention, Mary Hunter was invited to give a SQAB Invited Preeminent Tutorial about “The PORTL Laboratory.” SQAB, which stands for the Society for the Quantitative Analyses of Behavior, was founded in 1978 by M. L. Commons and J. A. Nevin to present and publish material … Read more
This video is part of the free resource section that accompanies the PORTL manual. For this shaping exercise, the teacher wanted the learner to push a toy car sideways across the table. That is, the car would be pushed perpendicular to the direction in which cars usually travel. What happens normally when you give someone a toy … Read more
In PORTL, students practice six foundational skills for shaping. One skill is capturing actions. Certain actions are more likely with certain objects. During this exercise, students practice picking objects that will make certain behaviors more likely to occur. For example, if you wanted a learner to push an object, it would be better to give … Read more
In PORTL, students practice six foundational skills for shaping. One skill is transferring an action from one object to another object. If you want a certain action to occur, it helps to start with an object or group of objects that will make it very easy for the learner to do that action. Once the … Read more
In PORTL, students practice six foundational skills for shaping. One skill is targeting. A “target” gives the learner directional clues. For example, a target can tell the learner to push an object in a certain direction or to put an object in a certain place. This can greatly speed up the shaping process. This video … Read more
In PORTL, students practice six foundational skills for shaping. The first skill is resetting an object. A “reset” occurs when the teacher returns an object to its starting place or position. This make it easier for the learner to repeat a certain behavior and to not practice other behaviors. This video explains the concept of … Read more
This video demonstrates the PORTL reinforcement delivery process. It shows what happens when the correct behavior occurs: – The teacher clicks the clicker. – The learner holds out a hand. – The teacher places a block in the learner’s hand. – The learner places the block in the bowl. – The teacher’s hand returns to … Read more
The following excerpt is from PORTL: The Portable Operant Research and Teaching Lab (pages 12-13).To buy a copy of the PORTL manual or a PORTL kit, visit our Store.For more information about PORTL, please visit our resource page. PORTL requires simple, inexpensive equipment. You will need the following: A collection of at least a dozen … Read more