Tom Critchfield
Professor
Psychology
Office
DEG Degarmo Hall 431
Office Hours
varies by semester
Office Phone
Email
- About
- Education
- Awards & Honors
- Research
Biography
I studied English Literature and Educational Psychology before earning a PhD in Experimental Psychology. I have since worked at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Auburn University, and ISU.
Current Courses
PSY 231.006 Research Methods In Psychology
PSY 231.007 Research Methods In Psychology
PSY 231.008 Research Methods In Psychology
PSY 231.009 Research Methods In Psychology
PSY 231.010 Research Methods In Psychology
PSY 392.001 Senior Seminar
PSY 392.002 Senior Seminar
PSY 290.011 Special Projects: Research Apprenticeship
PSY 291.011 Special Projects:Undergraduate Teaching
Teaching Interests & Areas
I usually teach courses related to Learning and Research Methods.
Research Interests & Areas
General topics in behavior analysis and learning.
Post-Doc Human Behavioral Pharmacology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Baltimore, MD
Ph D Psychology
West Virginia University
Morgantown, WV
James Johnson Award for Outstanding Faculty
Psi Chi
2023
Fellow
Association for Behavior Analysis International
2013
Outstanding College Researcher
ISU College of Arts & Sciences
2011
Don Hake Award for Distinguished Contributions to translational research
American Psychological Association - Division 25
2010
Fellow
American Psychological Association
2009
Distinguished Teacher
Illinois State University Chapter of Psi Chi
2007
Distinguished Teacher
Illinois State University Chapter of Psi Chi
2003
Distinguished Teacher
Illinois State University Chapter of Psi Chi
2000
Special Citation for Dedication to and Support of Student Researchers
Alabama Psychological Association
1999
Outstanding Faculty Mentor
Auburn University Graduate Student Association
1998
Outstanding Faculty Mentor
Auburn University Graduate Student Association
1997
Outstanding Teacher
Auburn University Panehellenic Council
1997
Outstanding Faculty
Auburn University Chapter of Psi Chi
1996
Outstanding faculty
Auburn University Chapter of Psi Chi
1994
Outstanding Faculty
Auburn University Chapter of Psi Chi
1992
Grants & Contracts
Developing a Psychology of Learning Teaching Laboratory. CTLT. Illinois State University. (2015)
Book, Chapter
Critchfield, T. Punishment. Sage Encyclopedia of Psychology (2016)
Critchfield, T., & Doepke, K. Origins of clinical innovations: Why practice needs science and how science reaches practic. F.D. DiGennaro Reed & D.D. Reed (EDs), Bridging the gap between science and autism service delivery. Springer (2015): 1-23.
Critchfield, T., & S, J. Finding faculty who fit at a large mid-level public university: General and institution-specific consideration. J.N. Busler et al. (EDs), Preparing the new psychology professoriate: Helping graduate students become competent teachers (2nd. ed.). Society for the Teaching of Psychology (2014): 170-176.
Journal Article
Critchfield, T. An emotional appeal for the development of empirical research on narrative (2018)
Critchfield, T. Efficiency is everything: Promoting efficient practice by harnessing derived stimulus relations. Behavior Analysis in Practice 11 (2018): 206-210.
Critchfield, T., & Doepke, K. Emotional overtones of behavior analysis terms in English and five other languages. Behavior Analysis in Practice (2018)
Critchfield, T., & Shue, E. The Dead Man Test: A preliminary experimental analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice (2018)
Critchfield, T., Barnes-Holmes, D., & Dougher, M. What Sidman did: Historical and contemporary significance of research on derived stimulus relations. Perspectives on Behavior Science (2018)
Becirevic, A., Critchfield, T., & Reed, D. On the social acceptability of behavior analysis terms: Crowdsourced comparisons of lay and technical language (2016)
Critchfield, T., & Reed, D. Does hearing about cancer influence stimulus control? An exploratory study of verbal modulation of stimulus generalization. Analysis of Verbal Behavior (2016)
Critchfield, T., Becirevic, A., & Reed, D. In Skinner's early footsteps: Analyzing verbal behavior in large public corpora (2016)
Critchfield, T., & Howard, N. Modeling the detection of early-evolving melanoma symptoms: Role of cancer information and delay discounting. The Psychological Record (2016)
Critchfield, T. Passable generalization gradients in about two minutes. Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin (2016)
Critchfield, T. Requiem for the Dead Man Test? (2016)
Critchfield, T., & T, S. A matching law analysis of risk tolerance and gain-loss framing in football play selection. Behavior Analysis: Research and Practice 15 (2015): 112-121.
Critchfield, T., & Doepke, K. Generality of behavior theory: A multifaceted “engineering test.”. PsycCRITIQUES 60.49 (2015): Article 6.
Critchfield, T., D, R., & P, J. Historically low bill production in the United States Congress: Snapshot of a reinforcement-contingency system in transition. The Psychological Record 15 (2015): 161-176.
Critchfield, T. In dreams begin responsibility: Why and how to measure the quality of graduate training in Applied Behavior Analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice 8 (2015): 122-133.
Critchfield, T. PBIS may not count as classical Applied Behavior Analysis: So what?. Behavior Analysis in Practice 8 (2015): 99-100.
Critchfield, T. What counts as high-quality practitioner training in Applied Behavior Analysis?. Behavior Analysis in Practice 8 (2015): 3-6.
Miller, J., Reed, D., & Critchfield, T. Modeling the effects of melanoma education on detection of subtle symptoms: A gradient shift analysis. The Psychological Record 65 (2015): 323-335.
Critchfield, T., & S, J. Critchfield, T.S., & Jordan, J.S. (2014). Prospective cognition in education and enculturation. Cognitive Psychology and Education 13 (2014): 139-146.
Critchfield, T., & T, S. Explanatory flexibility of the matching law: Complex situational bias effects in football play selection. The Psychological Record 64 (2014): 371-380.
Critchfield, T., & Farmer-Dougan, V. Isolation from the mainstream: Recipe for an impoverished science. European Journal of Behavior Analysis 15 (2014): 6-13.
Critchfield, T. Online equivalence-based instruction about statistical inference using written explanation instead of match-to-sample training.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 47.3 (2014): 606-11.
Critchfield, T., & T, T. Prospective instructional design: Establishing conditions for emergent learning. Journal of Cognitive Psychology and Education 13 (2014): 201-217.
Critchfield, T. Skeptic’s Corner – Punishment: Destructive force or valuable social “adhesive”?. Behavior Analysis in Practice 7 (2014): 36-44.
Critchfield, T. Ten rules for discussing behavior analysis. Behavior Analysis in Practice 7 (2014): 141-142.
Critchfield, T., & Fienup, D. A "happy hour" effect in translational stimulus relations research. Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin 29 (2013): 2-7.
Critchfield, T. Interesting times: practice, science, and professional associations in behavior analysis.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 34.2 (2011): 297-310.
Critchfield, T. To a young basic scientist, about to embark on a program of translational research.. The Behavior Analyst 34.2 (2011): 137-48.
Critchfield, T. Translational contributions of the experimental analysis of behavior.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 34.1 (2011): 3-17.
Fienup, D., & Critchfield, T. Transportability of equivalence-based programmed instruction: efficacy and efficiency in a college classroom.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 44.3 (2011): 435-50.
Critchfield, T. Crucial issues in the applied analysis of verbal behavior: reflections on crucial conversations: tools for talking when the stakes are high.. The Analysis of verbal behavior 26.1 (2010): 133-45.
Critchfield, T., & Fienup, D. Using stimulus equivalence technology to teach statistical inference in a group setting.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 43.4 (2010): 763-8.
Fienup, D., & Critchfield, T. Efficiently establishing concepts of inferential statistics and hypothesis decision making through contextually controlled equivalence classes.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 43.3 (2010): 437-62.
Fienup, D., Covey, D., & Critchfield, T. Teaching brain-behavior relations economically with stimulus equivalence technology.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 43.1 (2010): 19-33.
Mace, F., & Critchfield, T. Translational research in behavior analysis: historical traditions and imperative for the future.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 93.3 (2010): 293-312.
Stilling, S., & Critchfield, T. The matching relation and situation-specific bias modulation in professional football play selection.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 93.3 (2010): 435-54.
Alferink, L., Critchfield, T., Hitt, J., & Higgins, W. Generality of the matching law as a descriptor of shot selection in basketball.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 42.3 (2009): 595-608.
Critchfield, T., & Reed, D. What are we doing when we translate from quantitative models?. The Behavior analyst / MABA 32.2 (2009): 339-62.
Magoon, M., & Critchfield, T. Concurrent schedules of positive and negative reinforcement: differential-impact and differential-outcomes hypotheses.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 90.1 (2008): 1-22.
Kimberly Epting, L., & Critchfield, T. Self-Editing: On the Relation Between behavioral and Psycholinguistic Approaches.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 29.2 (2006): 211-34.
Reed, D., Critchfield, T., & Martens, B. The generalized matching law in elite sport competition: football play calling as operant choice.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 39.3 (2006): 281-97.
Ecott, C., & Critchfield, T. Noncontingent reinforcement, alternative reinforcement, and the matching law: a laboratory demonstration.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 37.3 (2004): 249-65.
Critchfield, T., Haley, R., Sabo, B., Colbert, J., & Macropoulis, G. A half century of scalloping in the work habits of the United States Congress.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 36.4 (2003): 465-86.
Critchfield, T., Paletz, E., MacAleese, K., & Newland, M. Punishment in human choice: direct or competitive suppression?. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 80.1 (2003): 1-27.
Critchfield, T., & Atteberry, T. Temporal discounting predicts individual competitive success in a human analogue of group foraging.. Behavioural processes 64.3 (2003): 315-331.
Doepke, K., Henderson, A., & Critchfield, T. Social antecedents of children's eyewtness testimony a single-subject experimental analysis.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 36.4 (2003): 459-63.
Critchfield, T. Evaluating the function of applied behavior analysis a bibliometric analysis.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 35.4 (2002): 423-6.
Critchfield, T., & Kollins, S. Temporal discounting: basic research and the analysis of socially important behavior.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 34.1 (2001): 101-22.
Dymond, S., & Critchfield, T. Neither dark age nor renaissance: Research and authorship trends in the experimental analysis of human behavior (1980-1999).. The Behavior analyst / MABA 24.2 (2001): 241-53.
Critchfield, T., Buskist, W., Saville, B., Crockett, J., Sherburne, T., & Keel, K. Sources cited most frequently in the experimental analysis of human behavior.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 23.2 (2000): 255-66.
Critchfield, T. Staffing the empirical analysis of verbal behavior.. The Analysis of verbal behavior 17 (2000): 175-7.
Critchfield, T., Newland, M., & Kollins, S. The good, the bad, and the aggregate.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 23.1 (2000): 107-15.
Critchfield, T., Buskist, W., & Saville, B. Whither the muse: What influences empirical research on verbal behavior?. The Analysis of verbal behavior 17 (2000): 179-90.
Ecott, C., Foate, B., Taylor, B., & Critchfield, T. Further evaluation of reinforcer magnitude effects in noncontingent schedules.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 32.4 (1999): 529-32.
Kollins, S., Newland, M., & Critchfield, T. Quantitative integration of single-subject studies: Methods and misinterpretations.. The Behavior analyst / MABA 22.2 (1999): 149-57.
Critchfield, T., & Epting, L. The trouble with babies and the value of bathwater: Complexities in the use of verbal reports as data.. The Analysis of verbal behavior 15 (1998): 65-74.
Lane, S., & Critchfield, T. Classification of vowels and consonants by individuals with moderate mental retardation: development of arbitrary relations via match-to-sample training with compound stimuli.. Journal of applied behavior analysis 31.1 (1998): 21-41.
Lane, S., Clow, J., Innis, A., & Critchfield, T. Generalization of cross-modal stimulus equivalence classes: operant processes as components in human category formation.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 70.3 (1998): 267-79.
Kollins, S., Newland, M., & Critchfield, T. Human sensitivity to reinforcement in operant choice: How much do consequences matter?. Psychonomic bulletin & review 4.2 (1997): 208-20.
Critchfield, T. Differential latency and selective nondisclosure in verbal self-reports.. The Analysis of verbal behavior 13 (1996): 49-63.
Lane, S., & Critchfield, T. Verbal self-reports of emergent relations in a stimulus equivalence procedure.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 65.2 (1996): 355-74.
Rush, C., Critchfield, T., Troisi, J., & Griffiths, R. Discriminative stimulus effects of diazepam and buspirone in normal volunteers.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 63.3 (1995): 277-94.
Critchfield, T. Bias in self-evaluation: Signal probability effects.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 62.2 (1994): 235-50.
Evans, S., Critchfield, T., & Griffiths, R. Caffeine reinforcement demonstrated in a majority of moderate caffeine users.. Behavioural pharmacology 5.3 (1994): 231-238.
Critchfield, T., & Lattal, K. Acquisition of a spatially defined operant with delayed reinforcement.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 59.2 (1993): 373-87.
Critchfield, T. Behavioral pharmacology and verbal behavior: Diazepam effects on verbal self-reports.. The Analysis of verbal behavior 11 (1993): 43-54.
Critchfield, T. Signal-detection properties of verbal self-reports.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 60.3 (1993): 495-514.
Critchfield, T., & Perone, M. Verbal self-reports about matching to sample: effects of the number of elements in a compound sample stimulus.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 59.1 (1993): 193-214.
Troisi, 2nd, J., Critchfield, T., & Griffiths, R. Buspirone and lorazepam abuse liability in humans: behavioral effects, subjective effects and choice.. Behavioural pharmacology 4.3 (1993): 217-230.
Evans, S., Critchfield, T., & Griffiths, R. Abuse liability assessment of anxiolytics/hypnotics: rationale and laboratory lore.. British journal of addiction 86.12 (1991): 1625-32.
Parker, B., Serdikoff, S., Kaminski, B., & Critchfield, T. Stimulus control of Pavlovian facilitation.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 55.3 (1991): 275-86.
Critchfield, T., & Griffiths, R. Behavioral and subjective effects of buspirone and lorazepam in sedative abusers: supra-therapeutic doses.. NIDA research monograph 105 (1990): 318.
Critchfield, T., & Perone, M. Verbal self-reports of delayed matching to sample by humans.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 53.3 (1990): 321-44.
Lattal, K., Freeman, T., & Critchfield, T. Response-reinforcer dependency location in interval schedules of reinforcement.. Journal of the experimental analysis of behavior 51.1 (1989): 101-17.
Critchfield, T., D, K., Epting, L., Becirevic, A., Reed, D., Fienup, D., Kremsreiter, J., & Ecott, C. Normative emotional responses to behavior analysis jargon: How not to use words to win friends and influence people. Behavior Analysis in Practice
Critchfield, T., & Shue, E. The Dead Man Test: A preliminary experimental analysis. Experimental Analysis of Human Behavior Bulletin
Magoon, M., Critchfield, T., Merrill, D., Newland, M., & Schneider, W. Are positive and negative reinforcement "different"? Insights from a free-operant differential outcomes effect. Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Presentations
Translational behavioral health psychology: Modeling the detection of melanoma symptom evolution. Mid-American Association for Behavior Analysis. (2012)
Translational behavioral health psychology: Modeling the detection of melanoma symptom evolution.. Texas Association for Behavior Analysis. (2012)
Translational research at Illinois State University. Illinois Association for Behavior Analysis. (2012)