S. Brian Hood

University of West Florida, Philosophy, Faculty Member

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Address: Pensacola, Florida, United States

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Papers by S. Brian Hood

Ivan Pavlov’s Conditioned Reflexes and Ivane Beritashvili’s Doctrine of Image-Driven Behavior: Materialism, Myth, and Politics

The Journal of the History of the Neurosciences, 2024

Ivane Beritashvili has been regarded as an “anti-Pavlovian” for nearly a century. One respect in ... more Ivane Beritashvili has been regarded as an “anti-Pavlovian” for nearly
a century. One respect in which Beritashvili is said to be anti-Pavlovian
is in granting an explanatory role to subjective mental states in his
doctrine of image-driven behavior. In this article, I aim to problematize
the anti-Pavlovian assessment and argue that Beritashvili did not
deviate from Pavlovian scientific norms, minor points of theoretical
and methodological differences between them notwithstanding.
Furthermore, several respects in which Beritashvili is claimed to be
anti-Pavlovian are ways in which he resembles Pavlov. Turning my
attention to Beritashvili’s critics in the Soviet Union, those responsible
for his censure, I argue that it is the critique of Beritashvili that runs
counter to the norms Pavlov embraced. I contest the claim that his
alleged deviations from Pavlovian orthodoxy justify classification as
anti-Pavlovian in a sense that is either historically accurate or philosophically
interesting, and submit that the grounds on which Beritashvili
is derided as anti-Pavlovian would also justify labeling Pavlov himself
as anti-Pavlovian. Informed by the case of Beritashvili and others who
were politically persecuted for their scientific work in the Soviet Union,
I conclude with reflections on science, politics, and the intrusion of the
latter in the former.

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Comorbidity in Child Psychiatric Diagnosis

Oxford University Press eBooks, Mar 1, 2014

Comments on Borsboom's Typology of Measurement Theoretic Variables and Michell's Assessment of Psychometrics as “Pathological Science”

Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research & Perspective, May 29, 2008

Gould, S. J. (1996). The mismeasure of man (2nd ed.). New York: Norton. Haig, B. D. (2005). Explo... more Gould, S. J. (1996). The mismeasure of man (2nd ed.). New York: Norton. Haig, B. D. (2005). Exploratory factor analysis, theory generation, and scientific method. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 40, 303–329. Maxwell, G. (1962). The ontological status of theoretical entities. In H. Feigl & G. Maxwell (Eds.), Minnesota studies in the philosophy of science (Vol. 3, pp. 2–28). Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

Realism and operationism in psychiatric diagnosis

Philosophical Psychology, Apr 1, 2011

ABSTRACT In the context of psychiatric diagnosis, operationists claim that mental disorders are n... more ABSTRACT In the context of psychiatric diagnosis, operationists claim that mental disorders are nothing more than the satisfying of objective diagnostic criteria, whereas realists claim that mental disorders are latent entities that are detected by applying those criteria. The implications of this distinction are substantial in actual clinical situations, such as in the co-occurrence of disorders that may interfere with one another&#39;s detection, or when patients falsify their symptoms. Realist and operationist conceptions of diagnosis may lead to different clinical decisions in these situations, affecting treatment efficacy and ultimate patient outcomes.

What Goes Wrong in Debates over Public Monuments

Social Science Quarterly

ObjectiveThis essay aims to explain the impasse in debates concerning Confederate monuments in pu... more ObjectiveThis essay aims to explain the impasse in debates concerning Confederate monuments in public spaces by noting a difference in unstated philosophical assumptions.MethodI examine two positions in this debate, offering an explanation for the inability for opposing sides to engage. The analytical framework has its basis in philosophical debates regarding objectivity in scientific theory selection.ResultsArguably, the impasse in this debate concerns underlying ethical principles: one that assesses morality based on intentions that motivate actions (namely, the motivation for erecting a monument) and one that assesses morality based on consequences of actions (namely, the consequences of removing monuments).ConclusionsThe locus of discussion can shift to these philosophical principles, offering a novel avenue for discussion and, hence, reconciliation. I suggest a fate for Confederate monuments that is responsive to both sides’ concerns and is informed by another country's att...

Comorbidity in Child Psychiatric Diagnosis: Conceptual Complications

The Two Disciplines of Scientific Psychology, or: The Disunity of Psychology as a Working Hypothesis

Dynamic Process Methodology in the Social and Developmental Sciences, 2009

Psychological Measurement and Methodological Realism

Erkenntnis, 2013

Within the context of psychological measurement, realist commitments pervade methodology. Further... more Within the context of psychological measurement, realist commitments pervade methodology. Further, there are instances where particular scientific practices and decisions are explicable most plausibly against a background assumption of epistemic realism. That psychometrics is a realist enterprise provides a possible toehold for Stephen Jay Gould's objections to psychometrics in The Mismeasure of Man and Joel Micheli' s charges that psychometrics is a "pathological science." These objections do not withstand scrutiny. There are no fewer than three activities in ongoing psychometric research which presuppose a commitment to a minimal epistemic realism. Those activities include selecting between different models for representing data, estimating ability in the context of item response theory, and the move to make the individual the fundamental unit of analysis in psychometrics thereby calling for a shift in what sorts of data are evidentially relevant. In none of these activities are the commitments and disregard for evidence that Gould and Micheli find objectionable or "pathological." 1 Facets of Realism Statements of scientific realism are diverse, though they tend to claim somethin along the lines of the following: the central claims of our most successful scientifi theories are at least approximately true. Unpacking this thesis typically involves laying out scientific realism's various components including a semantic thes (semantic realism), a metaphysical thesis (metaphysical realism), and an epistemic thesis (epistemic realism). Also characteristic among statements of scientific realism are claims about the "aims" of science, e.g., science aims to provide tru descriptions of the world.

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Validity in Psychological Testing and Scientific Realism

Theory & Psychology, Aug 1, 2009

Comments on Borsboom's Typology of Measurement Theoretic Variables and Michell's Assessment of Psychometrics as “Pathological Science”

Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research & Perspective, 2008

Validity in Psychological Testing and Scientific Realism

Theory & Psychology, 2009

Recent work in the conceptual foundations of psychometrics has concerned the question of validity... more Recent work in the conceptual foundations of psychometrics has concerned the question of validity. Borsboom and colleagues have challenged what they claim is the dominant theory of validity, that of Samuel Messick. In this paper I present Borsboom et al.’s concept of validity as a property of measurement instruments as well as Messick’s concept of validity as a property of interpretive inferences. I then relate their concepts of validity to scientific realism in the philosophy of science. I argue that there can be valid psychometric tests, in Borsboom et al.’s sense, only if some version of scientific realism is true. I argue that in Borsboom et al.’s and Messick’s approaches to validity, one finds the essential ingredients for a realist philosophy of science in psychological assessment. Borsboom et al. contribute semantic and ontological components while Messick provides the methodological tools for constructing an epistemology of psychological measurement. Though Borsboom et al. p...

In Defense of an Instrument-Based Approach to Validity

Measurement: Interdisciplinary Research & Perspective, 2012

This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or s... more This article may be used for research, teaching, and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution, reselling, loan, sub-licensing, systematic supply, or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae, and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand, or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material.

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Realism and operationism in psychiatric diagnosis

Philosophical Psychology, 2011

In the context of psychiatric diagnosis, operationists claim that mental disorders are nothing mo... more In the context of psychiatric diagnosis, operationists claim that mental disorders are nothing more than the satisfying of objective diagnostic criteria, whereas realists claim that mental disorders are latent entities that are detected by applying those criteria. The implications of this distinction are substantial in actual clinical situations, such as in the co-occurrence of disorders that may interfere with one another's detection, or when patients falsify their symptoms. Realist and operationist conceptions of diagnosis may lead to different clinical decisions in these situations, affecting treatment efficacy and ultimate patient outcomes.

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Disambiguating Latent Variables

In contrast to Borsboom (2008) who distinguishes between manifest and latent variables on epistem... more In contrast to Borsboom (2008) who distinguishes between manifest and latent variables on epistemic grounds in terms of “epistemic accessibility,” I advocate a demarcation on pragmatic grounds. The latter way of understanding this distinction does justice to the intuitions driving Borsboom’s account, but avoids unnecessary epistemic complications. I then turn to two cases, the Flynn Effect and the case of psycho-educational assessment, and show an equivocal understanding of one latent variable, Spearman’s g, has led some researchers to draw paradoxical conclusions regarding cognitive ability.

Comorbidity in Child Psychiatric Diagnosis

Philosophical Perspectives, 2014

Animal Sentience

Identifying specific traits to justify according differential moral status to humans and non-huma... more Identifying specific traits to justify according differential moral status to humans and non-human animals may be more challenging than Chapman & Huffman suggest. The reasons for this also go against their recommendation that we ought to attend to how humans and nonhumans are similar. The problem lies in identifying the moral relevance of biological characteristics. There are, however, other reasons for treating non-human animals as worthy of moral consideration, such as the Precautionary Principle.

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LATENT VARIABLE REALISM IN PSYCHOMETRICS

Psychometric Validity

The Encyclopedia of Clinical Psychology, 2014

Network models of psychopathology and comorbidity: Philosophical and pragmatic considerations

Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 2010

Cramer et al.&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s account of comorbidity comes with a substantive philosoph... more Cramer et al.&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s account of comorbidity comes with a substantive philosophical view concerning the nature of psychological disorders. Although the network account is responsive to problems with extant approaches, it faces several practical and conceptual challenges of its own, especially in cases where the individual differences in network structures require the analysis of intra-individual time-series data.

Psychological Measurement and Methodological Realism

Within the context of psychological measurement, realist commitments pervade methodology. Further... more

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S. Brian Hood

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