The origins and development of state notation and SKED

Research into the behavioral effects of schedules of reinforcement created a need for more accurate descriptions of procedures than were usually presented verbally. Early notation systems, developed by Skinner, Findley, and Mechner, addressed this problem, but failed to be generally applicable. State notation is a graphic notational system based on Mechner’s work and the mathematical theory of finite automata. Snapper and others have developed the SKED software system for the PDP-8 family of computers, based on state notation. Originally designed for papertape systems, versions of SKED have been developed to take advantage of support software from DEC, for users who have a mass storage peripheral device. OS/8 SKED makes use of the OS/8 operating system and offers many advantages. Time-Share SKED combines the power of OS/8 and the RTS-8 Real-Time System to provide time-sharing. With this system, programming and data analysis can be conducted while the computer monitors experiments.

[1]  F Mechner,et al.  A notation system for the description of behavioral procedures. , 1959, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior.

[2]  Bruce E. Hamilton Data-collection strategies in SKED , 1975 .

[3]  C. B. Ferster,et al.  Schedules of reinforcement , 1957 .

[4]  B. Skinner Diagramming schedules of reinforcement. , 1958, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior.

[5]  Arthur G. Snapper,et al.  Programming special functions in the SKED system , 1974 .

[6]  J. Findley,et al.  An experimental outline for building and exploring multi-operant behavior repertoires. , 1962, Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior.