Abstract

Increasingly, educators are becoming vocal about the use of research-based methods in the classroom. Instructional methods that focused on internalized student abilities often overshadows scientifically based academic procedures. However, as the call for effective educational research increases, particularly within the field of special education, methodologies that can be replicated are more widely accepted. The science of the study of behavior provides the means and the opportunity to develop such rigor and results in the classroom. Specifically using the theoretical model of Verbal Behavior (Skinner, 1957), it is possible to create effective teaching procedures that can be scientifically tested and easily replicated. One such teaching method has been developed that may be used in a variety of applications and has the potential to teach not only new facts, but also new repertoires. Multiple exemplar instruction is a teaching method that lends itself to scientific study and replication and has the potential to produce the aforementioned novel repertoires. The following is a review the theory of Verbal Behavior and an example of its application within the educational context.