Chapter 2 - Research Methods

Question 1

What is an appetitive stimulus?

Answer 1

An aspect of the environment that is desired.

Question 2

What is an aversive stimulus?

Answer 2

An aspect of the environment that is avoided.

Question 3

What is a baseline?

Answer 3

The ‘normal’ or standard behaviour that is usually measured before it is changed.

Question 4

What is the case study approach?

Answer 4

A type of descriptive research that involves intense analysis of a small number, or even a single, participant(s).

Question 5

What is the changing-criterion design?

Answer 5

A type of single-subject experimental research method that demonstrates the effect of a treatment by how closely the behaviour matches a criterion that is systematically altered.

Question 6

What is a comparative design?

Answer 6

A type of control group design in which different species are one of the independent variables.

Question 7

Define contingency.

Answer 7

A predictive relationship between two events where the occurrence of one event predicts the probably occurrence of another.

Question 8

What is a control group design?

Answer 8

A type of experimental research in which one group is affected by the independent variable and is compared to a group that is not affected at all (control group).

Question 9

Define covert behaviour.

Answer 9

“Private behaviours” Behaviour that can only be perceived by the individual that the behaviour belongs to. Cannot be seen/observed.

Question 10

What is a cumulative recorder?

Answer 10

A device that measures the rate of a certain behaviour/response. Graphically displays this information too.

Question 11

What is the dependent variable?

Answer 11

The factor in the study which measures the behaviour of the participants.

Question 12

What is deprivation?

Answer 12

The prolonged absence of a particular event. (which also increases the appetitiveness of that event, as well as it’s reinforcing value.)

Question 13

What is descriptive research?

Answer 13

Focuses on describing the behaviour - and does not investigate or create cause and effect relationships.

Question 14

Define duration.

Answer 14

The total amount of time that an individual performs a particular behaviour.

Question 15

What is an establishing operation?

Answer 15

A procedure that effects the appetitiveness or aversiveness of a stimulus. (e.g deprivation and satitation)

Question 16

What is a functional relationship?

Answer 16

The relationship between changes in an independent variable and changes in a dependent variable. (cause and effect relationship)

Question 17

What is an independent variable?

Answer 17

The factor in the study that is changing to affect behaviour.

Question 18

Define intensity in relation to psychology.

Answer 18

The strength or magnitude of a behaviour.

Question 19

What is an interval recording?

Answer 19

The measurement of whether or not a behaviour occurs within a series of continuous intervals.

Question 20

Define latency.

Answer 20

The length of time required for a behaviour to begin.

Question 21

What is a multiple-baseline design?

Answer 21

A type of single subject design in which a treatment is applied at different points in time for two or more different people, settings or behaviours. Leads to the demonstration of functional behaviours, if the behaviour is only affected after the treatment begins, for each condition.

Question 22

What is a naturalistic observation?

Answer 22

A type of descriptive research approach that involves the observation and systematic recording of natural behaviour.

Question 23

What is overt behaviour?

Answer 23

Behaviour that can be objectively observed by someone other than the individual performing the behaviour.

Question 24

Define rate of response.

Answer 24

The number of times a specific behaviour is displayed within a certain time period.

Question 25

Define a psychological response.

Answer 25

A particular instance of behaviour.

Question 26

What is the reversal design?

Answer 26

The return to the baseline condition after experiencing the experimental condition. (ABA or ABCAC)

Question 27

Define satiation.

Answer 27

The prolonged exposure to a particular event that increases it’s aversiveness.

Question 28

What is a single comparison design?

Answer 28

A type of single-subject design in which behaviour in a baseline condition is compared to behaviour in a treatment condition. (A-B)

Question 29

What is a single-subject design?

Answer 29

A design that only requires one or few participants.

Question 30

What is spatial contiguity?

Answer 30

The extent to which two events are close to each other in terms of space.

Question 31

Define speed in relation to psychology.

Answer 31

The amount of time required to perform a behaviour from start to finish.

Question 32

What is a stimulus?

Answer 32

An aspect of the environment or event that could potentially influence behaviour.

Question 33

Define temporal contiguity.

Answer 33

The extent to which two events occur close together in time.

Question 34

What is time-sample recording?

Answer 34

The measurement of whether or not a behaviour occurs within a series of discontinuous intervals.

Question 35

Define topography.

Answer 35

The physical form of a behaviour.

Question 36

What is a variable?

Answer 36

A characteristic of a person, place or thing that can change.