Chapter 2 - Research Menthods Flashcards
Dependent variable
Variable that is measured by researcher
Functional relationship
Relationship between changes in an IV and changes the DV
Stimulus
Any event that can potentially influence behavior, sometimes thought of as a cue
Response
A particular instance of a behavior
Overt
Observable behavior
Covert
Internal processes (think/feel)
Types of stimuli
Appetitive and aversive
Appetitive stimulus
Event that an organism seeks out
Aversive stimulus
Event that an organism will avoid
Establishing operations
A procedure that affects how appetitive or aversive a stimulus is
Deprivation
Prolonged absence of an event, increases want (appetitive)
Satiation
Prolonged exposure to consumption of event, des creases want (aversive)
Contiguity
Closeness or nearness
Temporal contiguity
Extent to which events occur close together in time
Spatial contiguity
Extent to which events are situated close to each other in space
Contingency
Predictive relationship between two events, such that occurrence of one event predicts the probable occurrence of the other
Rate of response
Frequency with which a response occurs in a certain time period
Intensity
Force or magnitude of the behavior
Duration
Length of time that the behavior is performed
Speed
How quickly or slowly a behavior occurs
Latency
Length of time required for a behavior to begin
Assessing reliability
How trustworthy that the behavior is performed
Interobserver reliability
Percent indicating how much two observers who code data agree on their observations (min 80, 90 preferred)
Descriptive research
No manipulation of vary ales, simply observe and describe
1. Naturalistic observation 2. Case studies
Naturalistic observation
Observation and recording objectively without speaking to the observed
Case studies
Intensive examination on one or few individuals with damage or rare gifts which are done in general or formal settings
Independent variable (IV)
Variable that researcher manipulates
Experimental research
Attempts to answer questions between functional relationships 1 control group design 2 single subject design
Control group design
Random assignment with factorial manipulations that have comparative designs (btwn or within species) and can make cause and effect conclusions
Single subject designs
Few subjects in two types 1 simple comparison (AB) design 2 reversal (ABAB) design
Simple comparison (AB) design
Compare baseline and treatment. Baseline (A) = normal frequency of behavior before intervention. Treatment (B) = record behavior after applying punishment
Reversal (ABAB) design
Similar to AB except does nutlike alternations between baseline and treatment, eliminates other influence and can conclude cause & effect
Use of animal in research (advantages)
Control of genetic, learning history and environment along with investigation in areas that aren’t considered ethical for humans
Use of animals in research (disadvantages)
Limited applicability to humans and morally wrong & inhumane
