Peter Richard Killeen
Encyclopedia
Peter Richard Killeen is unusual in that he has made major contributions to a number of fields in the behavioral sciences. He has been one of the few premier contributors in quantitative analysis of behavior
, and memory
.
. In 1964, he received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology in the honors college of from Michigan State University
and in 1969, his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
from Harvard University
. He joined the faculty of Arizona State University
and in 1968 rose to the rank of Professor of Psychology. He has been a Visiting Scholar, University of Texas, Austin 1984, Cambridge University in 1992, Centre for Advanced Study, Oslo, 2004
His honors include: Woodrow Wilson
, NSF
, and NIMH
Graduate Fellowships, Graduate Student Faculty of the Year Award, Fellow of: American Psychological Association
, American Psychological Society, Association for Behavior Analysis
; Member, Psychonomic Society
; Sigma Xi
(President, ASU Chapter, 1986 – 87), Wakonse (teaching) Fellow, 1993, Fellow, Society of Experimental Psychologists
(1997; Secretary/Treasurer 2000 – 3), Senior Scientist Award (1996; NIMH
), President, Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
(1999 – 2002); Poetry in Science Award, SQAB, 2002, F. J. McGuigan Lectureship on Understanding the Human Mind (APA: 2004), Ernest and Josephine Hilgard Award for the Best Theoretical Paper (Killeen & Nash, 2003), Faculty of 1000 Citation as Must Read: Russell et al. (2006) Response variability in AD/HD.
In quantitative analysis of behavior
, Killeen and Fetterman (1988) are the developers of a major behavioral theory of timing. Killeen has also developed a theory of learning as causal inference (1981) bringing these together in his paper on the perception of contingency in conditioning
: Scalar timing, response bias
, and the erasure of memory
by reinforcement
(Killeen, 1984). He also developed his Incentive theory based on adaptive clocks. He is one of the premier iintegrators and critics of models in quantitative analysis of behavior.
In the study of memory (Killeen, 2005; 2006) addressed the issue of ascending strength gradients or descending memory traces.
Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
Quantitative analysis of behavior is the quantitative form of the experimental analysis of behavior. This has become the dominant scientific approach to behavior analysis. It represents behavioral research using quantitative models of behavior. The parameters in the models hopefully have...
, and memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
.
Life and work
In 1942, he was born in Orange, New JerseyOrange, New Jersey
The City of Orange is a city and township in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 30,134...
. In 1964, he received his Bachelor’s degree in psychology in the honors college of from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
and in 1969, his Ph.D. in Experimental Psychology
Experimental psychology
Experimental psychology is a methodological approach, rather than a subject, and encompasses varied fields within psychology. Experimental psychologists have traditionally conducted research, published articles, and taught classes on neuroscience, developmental psychology, sensation, perception,...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He joined the faculty of Arizona State University
Arizona State University
Arizona State University is a public research university located in the Phoenix Metropolitan Area of the State of Arizona...
and in 1968 rose to the rank of Professor of Psychology. He has been a Visiting Scholar, University of Texas, Austin 1984, Cambridge University in 1992, Centre for Advanced Study, Oslo, 2004
His honors include: Woodrow Wilson
Woodrow Wilson
Thomas Woodrow Wilson was the 28th President of the United States, from 1913 to 1921. A leader of the Progressive Movement, he served as President of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910, and then as the Governor of New Jersey from 1911 to 1913...
, NSF
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
, and NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
Graduate Fellowships, Graduate Student Faculty of the Year Award, Fellow of: American Psychological Association
American Psychological Association
The American Psychological Association is the largest scientific and professional organization of psychologists in the United States. It is the world's largest association of psychologists with around 154,000 members including scientists, educators, clinicians, consultants and students. The APA...
, American Psychological Society, Association for Behavior Analysis
Association for Behavior Analysis
The Association for Behavior Analysis International is a nonprofit professional membership organization with the mission to contribute to the well-being of society by developing, enhancing, and supporting the growth and vitality of the science of behavior analysis through research, education, and...
; Member, Psychonomic Society
Psychonomic Society
The Psychonomic Society is one of the primary societies for general scientific experimental psychology in the United States. Although open to all areas of experimental psychology, its members typically study areas related to cognitive psychology, such as learning, memory, attention, motivation,...
; Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi
Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Society is a non-profit honor society which was founded in 1886 at Cornell University by a junior faculty member and a handful of graduate students. Members elect others on the basis of their research achievements or potential...
(President, ASU Chapter, 1986 – 87), Wakonse (teaching) Fellow, 1993, Fellow, Society of Experimental Psychologists
Society of Experimental Psychologists
The Society of Experimental Psychologists , originally called the Society of Experimentalists, is an academic society for experimental psychologists. It was founded by Edward Bradford Titchener in 1904 to be an ongoing workshop in which members could visit labs, study apparatus, and hear and...
(1997; Secretary/Treasurer 2000 – 3), Senior Scientist Award (1996; NIMH
National Institute of Mental Health
The National Institute of Mental Health is one of 27 institutes and centers that make up the National Institutes of Health...
), President, Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
The Society for Quantitative Analysis of Behavior was founded in 1978 by Michael Lamport Commons and John Anthony Nevin. The first president was Richard J. Herrnstein. In the beginning it was called the Harvard Symposium on Quantitative Analysis of Behavior...
(1999 – 2002); Poetry in Science Award, SQAB, 2002, F. J. McGuigan Lectureship on Understanding the Human Mind (APA: 2004), Ernest and Josephine Hilgard Award for the Best Theoretical Paper (Killeen & Nash, 2003), Faculty of 1000 Citation as Must Read: Russell et al. (2006) Response variability in AD/HD.
In quantitative analysis of behavior
Quantitative Analysis of Behavior
Quantitative analysis of behavior is the quantitative form of the experimental analysis of behavior. This has become the dominant scientific approach to behavior analysis. It represents behavioral research using quantitative models of behavior. The parameters in the models hopefully have...
, Killeen and Fetterman (1988) are the developers of a major behavioral theory of timing. Killeen has also developed a theory of learning as causal inference (1981) bringing these together in his paper on the perception of contingency in conditioning
Conditioning
Conditioning may refer to:* In psychology, the process of performing some particular action to directly influence an individual's learning; see education...
: Scalar timing, response bias
Response bias
Response bias is a type of cognitive bias which can affect the results of a statistical survey if respondents answer questions in the way they think the questioner wants them to answer rather than according to their true beliefs...
, and the erasure of memory
Memory
In psychology, memory is an organism's ability to store, retain, and recall information and experiences. Traditional studies of memory began in the fields of philosophy, including techniques of artificially enhancing memory....
by reinforcement
Reinforcement
Reinforcement is a term in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the process of increasing the rate or probability of a behavior in the form of a "response" by the delivery or emergence of a stimulus Reinforcement is a term in operant conditioning and behavior analysis for the process of...
(Killeen, 1984). He also developed his Incentive theory based on adaptive clocks. He is one of the premier iintegrators and critics of models in quantitative analysis of behavior.
In the study of memory (Killeen, 2005; 2006) addressed the issue of ascending strength gradients or descending memory traces.