Chapter 2

Question 1

abolishing operation

Answer 1

a procedure that decreases the appetitiveness or aversiveness of a stimulus

Question 2

appetitive stimulus

Answer 2

an event that an organism will seek out

Question 3

aversive stimulus

Answer 3

an event that an organism will avoid

Question 4

baseline

Answer 4

the normal frequency of a behavior prior to an intervention

Question 5

changing-criterion design

Answer 5

a type of single-subject design in which the effect of the treatment is demonstrated by how closely the behavior matches a criterion that is systemically altered

Question 6

Comparative design

Answer 6

A type of group design in which different species constitute one of the independent variables

Question 7

Contingency

Answer 7

A predictive relationship between two events such that the occurrence of one event predicts the probable occurrence of the other

Question 8

Control group design

Answer 8

A type of group design in which, at its simplest, subjects are randomly assigned to either an experimental (or treatment group) or a control group

Question 9

Covert behavior

Answer 9

Behavior that can be subjectively perceived only by the person performing the behavior. Thoughts and feelings are covert behaviors. Also known as private events or private behavior.

Question 10

Cumulative recorder

Answer 10

A device that records total number of responses overtime and provides a graphic depiction of the rate of response.

Question 11

Dependent variable

Answer 11

That aspect of an experiment That is allowed to freely vary to determine if it is affected by changes in the independent variable

Question 12

Descriptive research

Answer 12

Research that focuses on describing behavior and the circumstances behavior and the circumstances within which it occurred

Question 13

Duration

Answer 13

The total amount of time that an individual repeatedly or continuously performs a certain behavior

Question 14

Establishing an operation

Answer 14

A procedure that increases the appetitiveness or aversiveness of the stimulus

Question 15

Experimental research

Answer 15

A research method in which one or more independent variables are systemically varied to determine their effect on a dependent variable

Question 16

Functional relationship

Answer 16

The relationship between changes in the independent variable and changes in the dependent variable; A cause-and-effect relationship with

Question 17

Factorial design

Answer 17

A type of group design in which one examines the effects of two or more independent variables (or factors) across groups of subjects

Question 18

Group design

Answer 18

A type of experimental research in which one manipulates one or more independent variables across groups of subjects

Question 19

Independent variable

Answer 19

That aspect of an experiment that is made to systemically vary across the different conditions in an experiment

Question 20

Intensity

Answer 20

The force or magnitude of a behavior

Question 21

Interval recording

Answer 21

The measurement of whether or not a behavior occurs within a series of continuous intervals (The number of times the behavior occurs within each interval is irrelevant)

Question 22

Latency

Answer 22

The length of time required for a behavior to begin

Question 23

Motivating operation

Answer 23

A procedure that affects the appetitiveness or aversiveness of a stimulus. (There are two types: Establishing operations and abolishing operations)

Question 24

Multiple baseline design

Answer 24

A type of single-subject design in which a treatment is instituted at successive points in time for two or more persons settings or behaviors

Question 25

Naturalistic observation

Answer 25

A descriptive research approach that involves the systemic observation and recording of behavior in its natural environment

Question 26

Overt behavior

Answer 26

Behavior that can potentially be observed by an individual other than the one performing the behavior

Question 27

Rate of response

Answer 27

The frequency with which a response occurs in a certain period of time

Question 28

Response

Answer 28

A particular instance of a behavior

Question 29

Reversal design

Answer 29

A type of single-subject design that involves repeated alternations between a baseline period and a treatment period.

Question 30

Single comparison design

Answer 30

A research design that requires only one or a few subjects in order to conduct an entire experiment (Also known as single-case or small-n designs)

Question 31

Spatial contiguity

Answer 31

The extent to which events are situated close to each other in space

Question 32

Speed

Answer 32

The length of time required to perform a complete episode of behavior from start to finish

Question 33

Stimulus

Answer 33

an event that can potentially influence behavior (plural is stimuli)

Question 34

Temporal contiguity

Answer 34

The extent to which the events occur close together in time

Question 35

Time-sample recording

Answer 35

The measurement of whether or not the behavior occurs within a series of discontinuous intervals (The number of times that it occurs within each interval is irrelevant)

Question 36

topography

Answer 36

the physical form of a behavior

Question 37

variable

Answer 37

a characteristic of a person, place or thing that can change (vary) over time