Dymond, S; May, RJ; Munnelly, A; Hoon, AE. 2010. Evaluating the Evidence Base for Relational Frame Theory: A Citation Analysis. BEHAVIOR ANALYST 33 (1): 97-117.

[Eugene Garfield]

Dymond, S; May, RJ; Munnelly, A; Hoon, AE. 2010. Evaluating the Evidence 
Base for Relational Frame Theory: A Citation Analysis. BEHAVIOR ANALYST 33 
(1): 97-117.

Author Full Name(s): Dymond, Simon; May, Richard J.; Munnelly, Anita; Hoon, 
Alice E.

Language: English
Document Type: Article

Abstract: Relational frame theory (RFT) is a contemporary behavior-analytic 
account of language and cognition. Since it was first outlined in 1985, RFT has 
generated considerable controversy and debate, and several claims have been 
made concerning its evidence base. The present study sought to evaluate the 
evidence base for RFT by undertaking a citation analysis and by categorizing all 
articles that cited RFT-related search terms. A total of 174 articles were 
identified between 1991 and 2008, 62 (36%) of which were empirical and 112 
(64%) were nonempirical articles. Further analyses revealed that 42 (68%) of 
the empirical articles were classified as empirical RFT and 20 (32%) as empirical 
other, whereas 27 (24%) of the nonempirical articles were assigned to the 
nonempirical reviews category and 85 (76%) to the nonempirical conceptual 
category. In addition, the present findings show that the majority of empirical 
research on RFT has been conducted with typically developing adult 
populations, on the relational frame of sameness, and has tended to be 
published in either The Psychological Record or the Journal of the Experimental 
Analysis of Behavior. Overall, RFT has made a substantial contribution to the 
literature in a relatively short period of time.

Addresses: [Dymond, Simon] Swansea Univ, Dept Psychol, Swansea SA2 8PP, 
W Glam, Wales

Reprint Address: Dymond, S, Swansea Univ, Dept Psychol, Singleton Pk, 
Swansea SA2 8PP, W Glam, Wales.

E-mail Address: s.o.dymond at swansea.ac.uk

ISSN: 0738-6729