Richard S. Marken is a leading authority on the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) model of behavior. Now retired from a career as a psychology professor, human factors engineer, and health policy researcher, he still actively consults and carries out a program of research testing PCT.

• Preface; 1. Living control systems; 2. Doing research on purpose; 3. Getting started; 4. Basic research on purpose; 5. Exploring the hierarchy; 6. Learning; 7. Social control; 8. Back to the future (of PCT research).

'This book provides, with practical examples, some much-needed insight into how to study what living things do from beyond a stimulus–response perspective. This understanding has wide-ranging consequences for the study of behavior.' Heather Broccard-Bell, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego, USA

Richard S. Marken is a leading authority on the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) model of behavior. Now retired from a career as a psychology professor, human factors engineer, and health policy researcher, he still actively consults and carries out a program of research testing PCT.

• Preface; 1. Living control systems; 2. Doing research on purpose; 3. Getting started; 4. Basic research on purpose; 5. Exploring the hierarchy; 6. Learning; 7. Social control; 8. Back to the future (of PCT research).

'This book provides, with practical examples, some much-needed insight into how to study what living things do from beyond a stimulus–response perspective. This understanding has wide-ranging consequences for the study of behavior.' Heather Broccard-Bell, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego, USA

Richard S. Marken is a leading authority on the Perceptual Control Theory (PCT) model of behavior. Now retired from a career as a psychology professor, human factors engineer, and health policy researcher, he still actively consults and carries out a program of research testing PCT.

• Preface; 1. Living control systems; 2. Doing research on purpose; 3. Getting started; 4. Basic research on purpose; 5. Exploring the hierarchy; 6. Learning; 7. Social control; 8. Back to the future (of PCT research).

'This book provides, with practical examples, some much-needed insight into how to study what living things do from beyond a stimulus–response perspective. This understanding has wide-ranging consequences for the study of behavior.' Heather Broccard-Bell, Adjunct Assistant Professor in Psychological Sciences, University of San Diego, USA