Chapter 4: Measuring Behavior

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 occurs.

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).

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 measures.

Question 4

Discrete Trial

Answer 4

Any operant whose response rate is controlled by a given opportunity to emit a response. Each discrete response occurs when an opportunity to respond exists.

Question 5

Duration

Answer 5

The total time that behavior occurs; measured by elapsed time from the onset of a response to its end point.
- the length of time of one complete occurrence of a behavior. In order to measure this you have to be able to tell when it begins and ends. Sometimes this refers to the total amount of time a behavior was occurring across some period of time.

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.
- can be emitted at any time.
- it is discrete.
- requires minimal time for completion.
- can produce a wide range of response rates.
Examples:
1. Number of words read during a 1-min counting period.
2. Number of hand slaps per 6-seconds.
3. Number of letter strokes written in 3-minutes.

Question 8

Frequency

Answer 8

How often a behavior occurs. Some behavior analysts use this term to mean rate or a synonym for count.

Question 9

Interresponse Time (IRT)

Answer 9

A measure or temporal locus. Defined as the elapsed time between two successive responses.
- this is the time between the end of one occurrence of a particular behavior, and the beginning of another.

Question 10

Latency

Answer 10

A measure of temporal locus. The elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus (e.g. task direction, cue) 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 measures and reported by one or more fundamental or derivative measures such as frequency, duration, or latency.

Sometimes called amplitude.

Question 12

Measurement

Answer 12

The process of applying quantitative labels to describe and differentiate objects and natural events.

In applied behavior analysis 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 is recorded at precisely specified time intervals.
- time sampling, presence of behavior is scored if behavior present at the exact moment of sampling (end of an interval).

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 5-10 seconds).
The observer records whether the target behavior occurred at any time during the interval.
- not concerned with how many times the behavior occurred during the interval or how long the behavior was present, just that it occurred at some point during the interval.
- tends to overestimate the proportion of the observation period that the behavior actually occurred.
- time sampling, presence of a behavior is scored if behavior is present at any time during an interval.

Question 16

Percentage

Answer 16

A ratio (proportions) 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 of a certain type per total number of responses (or opportunities or intervals in which such a response could have occurred.
- presents a proportional quantity per 100.

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 fundamental measure of how often behavior occurs expressed as count per standards 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 conducted.
- used interchangeably with frequency.

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.
- rate of behavior per minute

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
-interresponse time
One of the three dimensional quantities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived.

Measuring the interval between a stimulus and the subsequent response.

Question 22

Time Sampling

Answer 22

A measurement of the presence or absence of behavior within 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

A special form of event recording; a measure of the number of responses or practice opportunities needed for a person to achieve a pre-established level of accuracy or proficiency.

Question 25

Whole-Interval Recording

Answer 25

A time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically 5-15 seconds). At the end of each interval, the observer records whether the target behavior occurred throughout the entire interval; - tends to underestimate the overall percentage of the observation period in which the target behavior actually occurred.
- time sampling, presence of a behavior is scored if behavior is present during the entire interval.