BEHP 5022 Measurement in Behavior Analysis Flashcards
Which dimension of ABA?
Targeted behavior is socially significant and important to the individual
Applied
Which dimension of ABA?
Relates procedures to behavioral principles
Conceptually systematic
Which dimension of ABA?
Identifies functional relationships between behavior and the environment
Analytic
Which dimension of ABA?
Focuses on observable and measurable behavior
Behavioral
Which dimension of ABA?
Procedures are clear and replicable
Technological
Which dimension of ABA?
Results in socially significant change, cost-effective, efficient, likely to maintain
Effective
Which dimension of ABA?
Results are durable and transfer to related behaviors
Generality
Occurs when a person follows a rule due to socially mediated consequences
Pliance
Occurs when a person follows a rule due to an apparent correspondence with the rule and how the world works
Tracking
Altering the reinforcing or punishing function of consequences that follow the behavior.
Augmenting
________ may occur when a model or theory is accepted in the absence of empirical support because of the perceived authority of the author
Pliance
________ involves examining the evidence for any given theory or model in order to determine how likely the approach will successfully solve new challenges
Tracking
List 4 criteria that predict the success of a model:
- e________
- contains few, if any, ________ ________
- agrees with all _________ ________
- makes detailed _________ that can be falsified empirically
- elegance
- contains few, if any, adjustable elements
- agrees with all existing observations
- makes detailed predictions that can be falsified empirically
________ is judging the validity of a claim based on objective empirical evidence
Skepticism
When human observers collect data, steps must be taken to ensure that changes in bx over time are actually changes in the bx of ________, and not in the behavior of the _________
interest, observer
_________ ___________ is the mechanism that provides the ability to predict and control our subject matter
Experimental evaluation
List the 3 fundamental components of the Data Based Problem Solving model suggested by Edwards (1987):
Problem identification, problem solution, problem evaluation
List 3 standards of evidence suggested by Normand (2008):
- I_________ ___________
- E________ __________
- R________ and _______-__________
- interobserver agreement
- experimental design
- replication and self-correction
List criteria for selecting behavioral cusps (Bosch 2001):
- access to new _________, __________ and ________
- s________ _________
- g__________
- competition with _________ _________
- number and relative importance of _________ affected
- access to new reinforcers, contingencies, and environments
- social validity
- generativeness
- competition with inappropriate responses
- number and relative importance of people affected
The tendency of people to accept very general characterizations of themselves as accurate
Barnum Effect
Tentative statement of a relationship between two variables
hypothesis (aka
A preferred term for “hypothesis” in ABA
research question
Environmental events that may influence the learner’s bx in ways that obscure the effects of the IV
extraneous variables
Anything that causes changes in the DV that is not the IV
confounding variable
List examples of confounding variables:
- e_________ _______
- p________ ________
- o_______ _________
- experimenter bias
- placebo effects
- order effects
In applied settings, the “research questions” are the _______ ________
client’s goals
List steps to undertake in the problem identification process:
- a____________
- d____________
- r__________ of _____________
- r__________ of _____________
- s_________ long and short-term goals
- assessment
- definition of target bxs
- review of theory
- review of literature
- short and long-term goals
List steps in the problem solution process:
- i____________ design
- e___________ design
- i___________
- d_______ ___________
- i__________
- intervention design
- experimental design
- implementation
- data collection
- integrity
List steps in the problem evaluation process:
- monitor ___________
- evaluate __________
- make ___________ conclusions
- monitor implementation
- evaluate progress
- make data-based conclusions (mastery, maintenance, modification)
List possible barriers to applied research:
- _____ review
- ______ data
- ________ data
- __________ design
- personal _________
- IRB review
- IOA data
- integrity data
- experimental design (demonstrate control)
- personal competence
The most important outcome of applied research is ________ __________
client benefit
In critical thinking, an argument consists of an _________ along with __________ evidence and a _________ explanation for the assertion
assertion, empirical, theoretical
Name 3 parts of an argument:
- a________
- e________ _________
- t_________ _________
- assertion
- empirical evidence
- theoretical explanation
Parts of an argument: A general description of the characteristics of one or more things or the relation between two or more things
Assertion
Parts of an argument: The believed functional mechanism that logically explains the phenomenon and supports the assertion
Theoretical explanation
Parts of an argument: Specific observations that support or refute the assertion
Empirical evidence
List 4 types of assertions:
- A and B are related
- A causes B
- P is a property of A
- A differs from B on property P
What type of assertion?
Describes a correlational relationship between two things
A and B are related
What type of assertion?
Describes a functional relationship between two or more things in which one thing causes another thing
A causes B
What type of assertion?
Describes one or more characteristics or properties of a phenomenon
P is a property of A
A is a thing, P is a characteristic
Observable data
Empirical evidence
List 4 types of empirical evidence:
- q_________ ___________ evidence
- q_________ ___________ evidence
- q_________ ___________ evidence
- q_________ ___________ evidence
- quantitative descriptive evidence
- qualitative descriptive evidence
- quantitative experimental evidence
- qualitative experimental evidence
Empirical evidence that is based on observations in the natural environment that is expressed in numbers
quantitative descriptive evidence
Empirical evidence that is based on observations in the natural environment that is not expressed in numbers
qualitative descriptive evidence
Consists of the results of an experiment that are expressed as numbers
quantitative experimental evidence
Consists of the results of an experiment that are not expressed as numbers
qualitative experimental evidence
According to Johnson and Pennypacker, sources of control over “question-asking” behavior of practitioners include:
- g________ _________
- e________ _________
- o________ _________
- e________ _________
- e________ _________
- e______ _________ ___________
- graduate training
- experimental literature
- observing behavior
- existing resources
- experimental contingencies
- extra-experimental contingenies
Experiments that are linked to other studies in specific ways are termed ________ research, while __________ research is developed separately from a coordinated research program
thematic, independent
___________ research focuses on showing that a certain result is possible, while __________ research focuses on how or why certain relationships work
demonstration, explanatory
When an investigator’s goal is to generate support for a predetermined conclusion, __________ research is taking place
advocacy
List 3 objectives of data analysis procedures:
- _________ initial decisions as the experiment proceeds
- _________ and _________ data that answer the question
- _________ unanticipated relationships
- modifying
- identifying and describing
- discovering
When selecting a response class to serve as the DV, the investigator must choose a behavior that will be _________ to the IV
sensitive
The experimental question’s most important role is guiding the selection of the _________ _________
independent variable
A constituent part of a whole phenomenon that serves as a basis for experimental study
unit of analysis
In behavior analysis, the unit of analysis is the ________ ________
response class
A collection of individual responses that have common sources of influence in the environment
response class
A class of stimulus-response relationships in which certain environmental events consistently elicit specific responses
reflex
A reflex in which the class of eliciting stimuli serve this function without a history of being paired with the unconditioned stimuli
unconditioned reflex
A reflex in which the class of eliciting stimuli have acquired this function because of a history of being paired with unconditioned stimuli
conditioned reflex
The class of responses elicited by particular unconditioned or conditioned antecedent stimuli
respondent
The processes involved in creating conditioned reflexes from unconditioned reflexes
respondent conditioning
A class of procedures involving the occurrence of a stimulus immediately following responding that results in an increase in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
positive reinforcement
A procedure involving the termination of a stimulus immediately following responding that results in an increase in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
negative reinforcement
A class of responses defined by a functional relation with a particular class of environmental stimuli that immediately follow these responses
operant
The process involved in changing operant behavior based on its environmental consequences
operant conditioning
A class of stimuli that occur immediately following responding, resulting in an increase in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
positive reinforcers
A class of stimuli that are terminated immediately following responding, resulting in an increase in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
negative reinforcers
A class of procedures involving the occurrence of a stimulus immediately following responding that results in a decrease in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
positive punishment
A procedure involving the termination of a stimulus immediately following responding that results in a decrease in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
negative punishment
A class of stimuli that occur immediately following responding, resulting in a decrease in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
positive punishers
A class of stimuli that are terminated immediately following responding, resulting in a decrease in some aspect of the response class over baseline levels
negative punishers
Stimuli that have acquired the function of setting the occasion for a behavior to occur
discriminative stimulus
A class of responses that are functionally related to classes of both antecedent and consequent stimuli
discriminated operant
The 3 general types of functional response classes are:
- r__________
- o_________
- d_________ ___________
- respondent
- operant
- discriminated operant
The tangible or intangible environmental effects of responding that are more than transitory in duration
response products
List 3 risks of using response product data:
- difficult to determine ___________
- can not assume 1:1 ____________
- lack of contact with ____________
- authorship
- correspondence
- topography
A mathematical result of combining behavioral data from multiple individuals whose behavior is related in some way
group behavior
List 3 types of group response class definitions:
- collective, e_________, i____________
- collective, e_________, n___________
- collective, n____________
- collective, equivalent, interactive (e.g., noise making)
- collective, equivalent, non-interactive (e.g., purchasing)
- collective, non-equivalent (e.g., measuring work products)
A relatively brief period of responding defined by the relatively frequent occurrence of one or more specific response classes and which is distinguished from other such bouts by relatively extended periods in which the target responses do not occur
episodes
List the 3 basic principles discussed in the Belmont Report:
- r________ ______ _________
- b__________
- j__________
- respect for persons
- beneficence
- justice
List the 3 functions of measurement:
- d___________
- c___________
- p___________
- description
- comparison
- prediction
Which function of measurement?
Attaching a number to an event to distinguish it from other events
description
Which function of measurement?
Using descriptions of multiple individual events to identify differences among them
comparison
Which function of measurement?
Making repeated descriptions of an event taken over time in order to anticipate the outcome of a future measurement
prediction
Specifies the dimension being measured
unit of measurement (e.g., inch, lbs)
An approach to measurement that involves attaching a number representing the observed extent of a dimensional quantity to an appropriate unit of measurement
dimensional measurement
A fundamental quality of a natural phenomenon
property
A quantifiable dimension of a property of a natural phenomenon
dimensional quantity
A determinate amount of a dimensional quantity of the phenomenon being measured
unit of measurement
A unit of measurement whose value is defined in a fixed or unvarying manner independently of the phenomenon being measured
absolute unit
A property of a phenomenon which occurs in time and is described in terms of the dimensional quantity of latency
temporal locus
A dimensional quantity that refers to the time between two events (in ABA, usually an event and response)
latency
A property of a phenomenon which occurs in time and is described in terms of the dimensional quantity of duration
temporal extent
A dimensional quantity that refers to the elapsed time between the beginning and ending of an event
duration
A property of events that can recur and is described in terms of the dimensional quantity of countability
repeatability
A dimensional quantity reflecting the property of repeatability that refers to the occurrence of the event being measured in terms of cycles
countability
A unit of measurement for the dimensional quantity of countability
cycle
A dimensional quantity referring to the time elapsing between two successive responses
IRT
The unit of measurement for IRT
time per cycle
The unit of measurement for the dimensional quantity of frequency (often minutes)
cycles per unit time (e.g. rate per minute)
Frequency represents change in ___________ over time, while celeration represents change in ___________ over time
responding, frequency
Dimensional quantity that describes change in the frequency of responding over time
celeration
A unitless number that results from calculations whose components share the same dimensional quantities
dimensionless quantity
List 5 factors that guide the selection of dimensional quantities:
- e_________ __________
- r________ __________
- t_________ __________
- o___________
- i__________ ___________
- experimental question
- research literature
- target behavior
- objectives of study
- intervention procedures
Measurement practices in which the events measured are the same as those about which conclusions will be drawn
direct measurement
Measurement practices in which the events measured are not the same as those about which conclusions will be drawn
indirect measurement
A schedule of observation that allows detection of all responses in the defined class
complete observation
A schedule of observation that samples from the population of responses in the defined class
incomplete observation
Observation procedures in which all target responses can be detected during observation periods
continuous observation
Observation procedures in which all target responses are not necessarily detected and recorded
discontinuous observation
Variations in features of responding within a single response class, as well as variations in summary measures of that class
Behavioral variability
The assumption that variability in behavior is in one way or another inherent or built into the nature of organisms
Intrinsic variability
The assumption that variability in behavior is describable, explainable, and predictable in terms of variation in other phenomena, whether biological or environmental
Extrinsic variability
List sources of behavioral variability:
- _________ of the organism
- experimental _________
- m____________
- experimental _________
- data __________
- _________ variable
- biology
- setting
- measurement
- experimental design
- data analysis
- independent variable
Arrangement of control and treatment conditions that permit comparisons that help to identify the effects of the independent variable on the dependent variable
Experimental design
A method of arranging comparisons between control and experimental conditions in which each subject is exposed to both control and experimental conditions in sequence so that the data represent the performance of individual participants
Within-subject design
A method of arranging comparisons between control and experimental conditions in which different groups of subjects are exposed to control and experimental conditions so that the data represent the combined performance of individual participants who have experienced only one of the conditions
between-groups design
Differences in responding between participants
Inter-subject variability
An effect of a participant’s behavior resulting from exposure to a prior condition
Sequence effect
An approach to making experimental comparisons that involves measuring responding for each participant repeatedly under each condition in an effort to assess and manage extraneous influences and thereby obtain a stable pattern of responding that represents the full effects of each condition
Steady-state strategy
A pattern of responding that shows relatively little variation in its measured dimensional quantities over some period of time
Steady state
A relatively consistent change in the data in a single direction
Trend
A measure of variability defined by the highest and lowest values in a data set
Range
A repeating pattern of local variability, often involving sequences of increasing and decreasing trends (in either order)
Cycle
A pattern of responding involving change from one steady state to a different steady state
Transition state
A pattern of responding involving a deviation from a steady state that ends in a return to the same steady state
Transitory state
An experiment that demonstrates a clear functional relationship can be said to have a high degree of ______ _______
internal validity
_________ asks about getting the same outcomes if procedures were repeated exactly
Reliability
_________ asks about getting the same outcomes if procedures were somewhat different
Generality
List the 3 levels of experimental elegance in order from least to most:
- d____________
- c____________
- f__________ ___________
- demonstrations
- correlations
- functional relations
The management or control of different variables in a study, including the IV and extraneous variables
experimental control
The extent to which the IV is consistently implemented as designed
treatment integrity
Repetition of any parts of an experiment
replication
Repetition of results, usually as an outcome of repetition of procedures
reproduction
Repetition of a basic element of a procedure throughout each session
Within-session replication
Repetition of the same condition many times in succession throughout a phase
Within-phase replication
Repetition of an entire phase during the course of an experiment
Within-experiment replication
Repetition of an earlier experiment, usually by other researchers
Within-literature replication
Repetition of phenomena under different conditions across different fields of science
Across-research-literature replication
In experimental notation, a dotted line indicates that a ________ condition is present
control
In experimental notation, a solid horizontal line indicates that a ________ is present
independent variable
In experimental notation, an IV is described by a labe ________ the horizontal line
under
In experimental notation, a vertical line extending _______ a fixed distance from a horizontal line indicates the end of one condition and the beginning of another
upward
In experimental notation, a vertical line extending __________ a fixed distance from a horizontal line indicates the end of one condition and the beginning of a previously used condition
downward
In experimental notation, a ______ encloses labels identifying the participant, target behavior, and setting
brace
A within-subject experimental design composed of a control and an experimental condition
AB design
A within-subject experimental design involving a pair of control and experimental conditions in which one or both conditions repeat at least once
Reversal design
A variation of a reversal design that exposes a participant first to one condition and then to another in some form of repeated alternation
Multi-element or alternating treatments design
A within-subject, single baseline design using AB and reversal sequences to identify effects of manipulating performance criteria
Changing criterion design
A within-subject, single baseline design using AB and reversal sequences to identify effects of manipulating a specific parameter of a procedure
Parametric design
A within-subject design that uses two or more baselines in a coordinated way to allow control–treatment comparisons both within and across baselines
Multiple baseline design
The process of changing a behavior that involves interactions between responses and
environmental events whose effects depend on the processes of reinforcement and punishment
conditioning
The relatively enduring changes in behavior that result from conditioning processes
learning
A class of responses elicited by a particular unconditioned or conditioned antecedent stimulus
respondent
A class of responses defined by a functional relation with a class of consequent events that immediately follow those responses
operant
A class of responses that are functionally related to classes of both antecedent and consequent stimuli
discriminated operant
The established practices of scientific communities that have evolved over time because of their effectiveness in studying natural phenomena
scientific method
Values resulting from observation and recording procedures used to collect the data for a study
observed values
Values resulting from special observation and recording procedures that are somewhat different from those used to collect the data being evaluated and that involve special efforts to minimize error
true values
The extent to which observed values approximate to the events that actually occurred
accuracy
The stability of the relationship between observed values and the events that actually occurred
reliability
The extent to which observed values represent the events they are supposed to represent and that will be the focus of interpretation
validity
The extent to which the investigator can, in the absence of direct evidence, convince others to believe that the data are good enough for interpretation. Does not involve direct evidence about the relationship between data and the events they are intended to represent
believability
Name two methods for assessing validity of indirectly measured data:
- arrange for _______ measures of target bx on a _______ basis
- collect __________ ___________ consistent with assumption of validity
- arrange for direct measures of target bx on a periodic basis
- collect corroborative evidence consistent with assumption of validity
_________ is assessed by obtaining true values and comparing with observed values
Accuracy
List 2 ways of assessing reliability:
- obtain ______ ________ and compare with ______ _______
- present observer with the same sample ________ _______
true values, observed values
multiple times
Evaluating the accuracy and reliability of data produced by a measurement procedure and, if
necessary, using these findings to improve the procedure so that it meets desired standards
Calibration
A procedure for enhancing the believability of data that provides no information about accuracy or reliability
Interobserver agreement
List 3 procedures for determining IOA:
- _______ and _________ primary and secondary observers
- set up an ___________ observation procedure
- select agreement ___________ and calculate agreement
- select and train
- independent
- formula
A procedure for calculating IOA typically used with dimensional quantities such as count, duration, and latency that involves summing the total count for each of two observers, dividing the smaller total by the larger total, and multiplying the result by 100 to arrive at the percent agreement
total agreement
A procedure for calculating IOA that involves dividing the observation period into intervals in which two observers record the actual number of responses. In order to obtain percent agreement, only intervals in which the two observers agreed on the exact count are
considered agreements
exact agreement
A procedure for calculating IOA when interval recording or time sampling is used. Each interval scored by two observers is counted as an agreement, and each interval that is scored by neither observer is also called an agreement. Intervals for which only one
observer scored the behavior are counted as disagreements
interval agreement
A conservative approach to calculating IOA when interval recording or time sampling is used that involves calculating and reporting agreement separately for both occurrences (scored intervals) and nonoccurrences (unscored intervals)
occurrence / nonoccurrence agreement
List 5 data characteristics that should control the evaluation of behavior change across phases:
- change in ________
- ________ to change
- ________ shift
- between-phase ________
- between-phase differences in _______
- change in level
- latency to change
- mean shift
- between-phase overlap
- between-phase differences in trend
The immediate change in responding from the end of one phase to the beginning of the next assessed by comparing the last data point from a condition to the first data point of the subsequent condition
level change
The time required for change in responding to be detected after the onset of a new experimental condition
latency to change
The amount by which the means differ across phases
mean shift
An experimentally determined relation that shows that the dependent variable depends on or is a function of the independent variable and nothing else.
functional relation
List 3 levels of experimental “elegance”:
- d_____________
- c________________
- f__________ _______________
- demonstration
- correlation
- functional relation
The management or control of different variables in a study, including the independent variable and extraneous variables
experimental control
The extent to which the independent variable is consistently implemented as designed
treatment integrity
