Chapter 4

Question 1

Artifact

Answer 1

An outcome or result that appears to exist because of the way it is measured but in fact does not correspond to what actually occurred.

Question 2

Celeration

Answer 2

The change (acceleration or deceleration) in rate of responding over time; based on count per unit of time (rate); expressed as a factor by which responding is accelerating or decelerating (multiplying or dividing); displayed with a trend line on a Standard Celeration Chart.

Question 3

Count

Answer 3

A simple tally of the number of occurrences of a behavior. The observation period, or counting time, should always be noted when reporting count measures.

Question 4

Discrete Trial

Answer 4

Any operant whose response rate is controlled by a given opportunity to emit the response. Each discrete response occurs when an opportunity to respond exists. Discrete Trial, Restricted Operant, and Controlled Operant are synonymous technical terms.

Question 5

Duration

Answer 5

A measure of the total extent of time in which a behavior occurs.

Question 6

Event Recording

Answer 6

Measurement procedure for obtaining a tally or count of the number of times a behavior occurs.

Question 7

Free Operant

Answer 7

Any operant behavior that results in minimal displacement of the participant in time and space. A free operant can be emitted at nearly any time; it is discrete, it requires minimal time for completion, and it can produce a wide range of response rates.

Question 8

Frequency

Answer 8

A ratio of count per observation time; often expressed as count per standard unit of time (e.g., per minute, per hour, per day) and calculated by dividing the number of response; recorded by the number of standard units of time in which observations were conducted; used interchangeably with rate.

Question 9

Interresponse Time (IRT)

Answer 9

A measure of temporal locus; defined as the elapsed time be-tween two successive response.

Question 10

Latency

Answer 10

A measure of temporal locus; the elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus to the initiation of a response.

Question 11

Magnitude

Answer 11

The force or intensity with which a response is emitted; provides important quantitative parameters used in defining and verifying the occurrence of some response classes. Responses meeting those criteria are measured and reported by one or more fundamental or derivative measures such as frequency, duration, or latency.

Question 12

Measurement

Answer 12

The process of applying quantitative labels to describe and differentiate objects and natural events.
Measurement in ABA involves three steps:
1. Identifying the behavior to be measured
2. Defining the behavior in observable terms
3. Selecting an appropriate observation and data-recording method

Question 13

Measurement by Permanent Product

Answer 13

A method of measuring behavior after it has occurred by recording the effects that the behavior produced on the environment.

Question 14

Momentary Time Sampling

Answer 14

A measurement method in which the presence or absence of behaviors are recorded at precisely specified time intervals.

Question 15

Partial-Interval Recording

Answer 15

A time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically from 5 to 10 seconds). The observer records whether the target behavior occurred at any time during the interval; tends to overestimate the proportion of the observation period that the behavior actually occurred.

Question 16

Percentage

Answer 16

A ratio (i.e., a proportion) formed by combining the same dimensional quantities, such as count (number; number) or time (duration; duration; latency; latency); expressed as a number of parts per 100; typically expressed as a ratio of the number of responses of a certain type per total number of responses (or opportunities or intervals in which such a response could have occurred).

Question 17

Planned Activity Check (PLACHECK)

Answer 17

A variation of momentary time sampling in which the observer records whether each person in a group is engaged in the target behavior at specific points in time; provides a measure of “group behavior.

Question 18

Rate

Answer 18

A ratio of count per observation time; often expressed as count per standard unit of time (e.g., per minute, per hour, per day) and calculated by dividing the number of responses recorded by the number of standard units of time in which observations were con-ducted; used interchangeably with frequency. The ratio is formed by combining the different dimensional quantities of count and time (i.e., count time). Ratios formed from different dimensional quantities retain their dimensional quantities.

Question 19

Repeatability

Answer 19

Refers to the fact that a behavior can occur repeatedly through time (i.e., behavior can be counted); one of the three dimensional quantities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived.

Question 20

Temporal Extent

Answer 20

Refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs during some amount of time; one of the three dimensional quantities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived.

Question 21

Temporal Locus

Answer 21

Refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs at a certain point in time with respect to other events (i.e., when in time behavior occurs can be measured); often measured in terms of response latency and interresponse time (IRT); one of the three dimensional quantities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived.

Question 22

Time Sampling

Answer 22

A measurement of the presence or absence of behavior with-in specific time intervals. It is most useful with continuous and high-rate behaviors.

Question 23

Topography

Answer 23

The physical form or shape of a behavior.

Question 24

Trials-to-Criterion

Answer 24

An IOA index for discrete trial data based on comparing the observers’ counts (0 or I) on a trial-by trial, or item-by-item, basis; yields a more conservative and meaningful index of IOA for discrete trial data than does total count IOA.

Question 25

Whole-Interval Recording

Answer 25

A time sampling methods for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically from 5 to 15 seconds). At the end of each interval, the observer records whether the target behavior occurred throughout the entire interval; tends to underestimate the proportion of the observation period that many behaviors actually occurred.