A-1 Identify The Goals Of Behavior Analysis As A Science

Question 1

Description

Answer 1

Accurately describe.

Everyone involved in the study can observe the behavior

A collection of facts that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations.

Systematic observations that can be quantified of classified.

Can be a hypothesis or questions for additional research.

Not causal explanations.

Examples:

1. Number of praise statements made by a teacher
2. Observation of birds and documenting habits and identifying new species.
3. Teachers natural rates of approval and disapproval. Findings approval dropped as students went up a grade and teachers delivered disapproval statements after 2nd grade.

Synonyms: control, operational definition of behavior, prediction, science

Question 2

Prediction

Answer 2

Two events covert with each other. The process of one event another event occurs or fails to occur with some specified probability.

Systematic covariation: one event will occur based on the presence of the other event.

Nothing is manipulated or controlled.

Ex:

1. Studying movements of stars or planets we can gauge the seasons and when to plant crops for the harvest.
2. When the weather is hot, there are more drowning deaths. This is a correlation, but we cannot assume hot weather causes drowning deaths.

There is a usefulness in aiding prediction. The findings of correlational studies can suggest the possibility of causal relations, which can be explored with experimental studies.

Question 3

Control

Answer 3

Functional relation- the highest level scientific understanding.

Experimental demonstration that manipulating one event (independent variable) results in another event (dependent variable).

Functional relation exists when a well controlled experiment demonstrates that a specific change in one event (dependent variable) is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event (independent variable) and that the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of extraneous factors (confounding variables)

To establish control, independent variables must be manipulated leading to a change in the dependent variable.

Repeated manipulation of variables can establish more and more experimental control (or a functional relationship). Although true causation is difficult to prove, control is the most effective way to identify possible causation between two events. We use control in behavior analysis to determine the effectiveness of our interventions and treatments.

Change in one event (the dependent variable)

Manipulations in another (independent variable)

Question 4

Levels of Scientific Understanding

Answer 4

Description
Prediction
Control

Question 5

Confounding Variables

Answer 5

Variable that is not an independent variable, but influences and affects the dependent variable. We have to make sure we exclude confounding variables

Question 6

Functional Relation (co-relation)

Answer 6

Functional relation exist, when a well controlled experiment demonstrates that a specific change in one event, dependent variable is reliably produced by specific manipulations of another event, independent variable, and that the change in the the dependent variable was unlikely to be a result of cofounding variables.

Are independent variables, the cause of the behavior are external conditions of which behavior is a function.

y= f (x)

Dependent variable = f (independent variable)

In order to determine if an observed relation is truly functional it is necessary to demonstrate the operation of the values of X in isolation, and show that they are sufficient for the production of Y.

Is X causing the change in y