CH.1-3: Measurement

Question 1

Behaviour Analysis? And who?

Answer 1

Natural Science that studies the behaviour of organisms. Derived from Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson and Skinner

Question 2

Psychological Approach?

Answer 2

Behaviour originates in “the mind”

Question 3

Natural Science Approach

Answer 3

Behaviour is a natural phenomenon and must be accounted for like any other natural phenomenon.

Question 4

Manipulated variables in the scientific approach

Answer 4

Manipulated variables must be independently verifiable (measurable). Assumptions: 1. All behaviour is caused. 2. Cause precede their effects. 3. When confronted with competing explanations the most parsimonious is preferred. 4. The causes of behaviour include only natural (publicly observable) phenomena.

Question 5

Circular Logic

Answer 5

A logical fallacy in which the reasoner begins with what they are trying to end with. Cake ex: They didn’t eat the cake because willpower. We know they have willpower because they didn’t eat the cake. Explanation = description and description = explanation. Bad because no new info is being added.

Question 6

The Experimental Method

Answer 6

The Hypothesized Cause (Independent Variable x) —>(Causality) —> The Phenomenon to be Explained (Dependent Variable Y)

Question 7

Phenomenon

Answer 7

A fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen, especially one whose cause or explanation is in question.

Question 8

Basic Logic of The Experimental Method

Answer 8

Independent Variable Manipulation (Environmental Condition A-cause present, Environmental Condition B-cause absent) and the Dependent Variable (Behaviour- does it occur or not)

Question 9

In the rat experiment with coffee, what was the Independent Variable and dependent variable?

Answer 9

IV: the amount of coffee given to the rats.
DV: the work they did (the lever pressing across time)

Question 10

What is causality?

Answer 10

There is a causal relationship between two variables if a change in the level of one variable causes a change in the other variable.
Ex: Environmental manipulation —>Causality—> Observed Behaviour

Question 11

What is the para-mechanical process?

Answer 11

Independent Variable (Environmental Manipulation) —>
Causality —> Invisible Process—> Causality —> Dependent Variable (observed behaviour)

In simple terms, a para-mechanical process in behavior modification is anything that supports behavior change indirectly, like using reminders, organizing the environment, or setting routines that help make it easier to stick to desired behaviors. It’s not directly changing the behavior itself, but helping the main process work better.

Question 12

What is the basic goal of psychology?

Answer 12

To explain the behaviour of organisms.
Explain = Prediction and Control.

Question 13

A Functional (i.e. causal) Relationship

Answer 13

When changes in an independent variable (X) cause orderly changes in a dependent variable (Y)

Important: Behaviour = f(Organism, Environment)
Ex. Coke = f(money)
Where coke is the dependent variable and money is the independent variable.

Question 14

Behaviour characteristics?

Answer 14

Behaviour is not static or discrete. It is continuous (like evolution) and shaped by the environment (also like evolution).
The pure stimulus-response model of behaviour is not accepted anymore.

Question 15

Selection

Answer 15

Is a causal process.

In psychology, “selection” in behavior modification refers to choosing behaviors that are most likely to be rewarded or are beneficial based on past experiences. Over time, behaviors that get positive results are “selected” and repeated, while those that don’t work well are less likely to continue. It’s like a natural process of figuring out what works best and sticking to it.

Ex turning a door knob.
Variations in: pressure, strength, technique, hand.
Variations are selected: become more or less probable based on how well they work. Behaviour is changed by experiences in the environment.

Question 16

Operational Definition

Answer 16

A description of a variable in terms of the operations used to establish or measure that variable.
Precise, Interobserver reliability (people using the same definitions should reach the same conclusions), quantitative, objective/unambiguous (no reference of internal states, feelings, or motivations), practical, important/significant.

Ex. Measuring when a mouse goes around a corner. Are we measuring when the head passes the corner? The shoulders? The tail?
Ex. Measuring the “mouth wateringness” of food.
Using cotton balls to measure saliva for a certain period of time. A scale of 0-10 will not work because my 7 may not be the same as your 7 (interobserver reliability)

Question 17

Category mistakes

Answer 17

Treating a category label as an instance of a category.

Example: Team spirit.
Yes- team chants, huddles, high fives
No- Actual Ghost

Example: Name three fruits
Yes- Apple, banana, peach
No- Apple, banana, fruit

Leads to circular logic.

Example: Man performs complex math equation. Error: He is assumed to be intelligent.

Question 18

Behavioural Assessment

Answer 18

Measurement of the target behaviour.

Question 19

Baseline

Answer 19

A phase in which no treatment is implemented.
1) Determine if treatment is necessary.
2) Determine whether or not your treatment was successful.

Question 20

A-B-A-B Reversal Design

Answer 20

Demonstrates a functional (causal) relationship between the manipulated variable and the dependent variable.

Question 21

A-B-A-B Reversal Design considerations

Answer 21

Variations: A-B-A-C-A
Is it ethical to remove treatment?
Can the treatment be removed?
How long do you gather baseline and treatment data?

Question 22

Direct vs. Indirect Assessment

Answer 22

Direct (ideal): target behaviour is measured as it occurs.
The observer need not be a person, but can also be a camera or some other recording device, self-monitoring.

Indirect: Measure target behaviour with interviews, questionnaires, and/or rating scales, rely on testimony from other people, requires recall of an individual’s behaviour. Testimonials may be biased, inaccurate, unreliable and/or incomplete.

Question 23

Populations vs. Individuals, sample mean and variance

Answer 23

Common statistical approaches emphasize averages across individuals.
-Sample mean estimates the true population mean
-Sample variance estimates the true population variance

Question 24

Populations vs. Individuals errors

Answer 24

Averages may not represent reality. Generalize from individuals to populations. Generalize from populations to individuals. Statistical fallacy.

Question 25

Single-Case Designs

Answer 25

Method concerned with discovering the principles and conditions that govern an individual organism. The individual acts as its own control group.

Also called single- subject designs

Question 26

Behavioural measures: Accuracy

Answer 26

Error reduction/percent correct.

Ex. How many mistakes you made on a practice quiz.

Question 27

Behavioural Measures: Topography

Answer 27

The way a behaviour looks

Playing an instrument- technique
A boisterous classmate- their behaviour

Question 28

Behavioural Measures: Intensity

Answer 28

The severity or forcefulness of a behaviour.

Ex:
-A rat pressing lever to get food; increase resistance of lever so that the rat has to press harder
-After learning a piece you add dynamics.
-A child screams for four hours at 70 db

Question 29

Behavioural Measures: Latency

Answer 29

Amount of time passed before behaviour occurs

Ex.
-reflexes
-Child learning multiplication tables “5x7” “…” vs “5x7” “35!”

Question 30

Behavioural Measures: Duration

Answer 30

The amount of time during which a behavior happens; how long the behavior takes.

Ex:
-How long it takes a rat to get through a maze (initially slow then speeds up
-Child reciting ABC’s
-A student engages in tantrum behavior for eight minutes during music class.

Question 31

Behavioural Measures: Distribution of Behaviour

Answer 31

Choice of behaviour

Ex:
-When given two slot machines, you may choose to play one slot machine slightly more than the other. Measure amount of. Time on each machine or amount of switching.

Question 32

Behavioural Measures: Rate

Answer 32

Amount of behaviour (occurrences)/ time

Ex:
-Rate of swearing: Amount of times swearing/some unit of time (ie 24)

Question 33

Behavioural Measures: Frequency

Answer 33

Amount of behaviour

Ex:
- Frequency of swearing is the amount of times you swore.

Question 34

Natural Environment vs. Analogue Environment

Answer 34

Natural:
-Pro: determine what variable to investigate
-Con: behaviour more chaotic, difficult to control variables

Analogue:
-Con: too unrealistic
-Pro: controlled, orderly behaviour & reproducible

Question 35

Why do we use animals?

Answer 35

-Control the influence of heredity (know their genetic history… you can’t have breeding programs for humans)
-Control the influence of learning
-Practicality (small, easy to handle, work hard for small amount of food)
-Apply procedures that are unethical with humans