Chapter 7- Analyzing Behavior Change: Basic

Question 1

Experimental control

Answer 1

When a predictable change in behavior is reliably produced by the systematic manipulation of some aspect of the environment.

Question 2

Internal validity

Answer 2

A study that shows convincingly that changes in the dependent variable are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown variables.

Question 3

External validity

Answer 3

Degree to which a study’s results are generalizable to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors.

Question 4

Confounding variables

Answer 4

Uncontrolled variables known or suspected to exert an influence on the dependent variable.

Question 5

Research question

Answer 5

Specifies what the investigator wants the experiment to answer.

Question 6

Types of research questions

Answer 6

Demonstration, parametric, component, comparative

Question 7

Demonstration question

Answer 7

To what extent will this intervention work?

Question 8

Parametric question

Answer 8

Does more or less of the intervention work better?

Question 9

Component question

Answer 9

How effective is the intervention when various components are added or subtracted?

Question 10

Comparative question

Answer 10

Does one intervention work better than another?

Question 11

Single-case design

Answer 11

Each subject is their own control for the intervention.

Question 12

Extraneous variables

Answer 12

All aspects of the environmental settings. These must be held constant to prevent unplanned variation.

Question 13

Parametric analysis

Answer 13

Seeks to discover the differential effects of a range of values of the independent variable.

Question 14

Steady state responding

Answer 14

A pattern of responding that exhibits relatively little variation in its measured dimensional quantities over a period of time.

Question 15

Baseline logic

Answer 15

Prediction, verification, and replication.

Question 16

Steady state strategy

Answer 16

Entails exposing a subject to a given condition while trying to eliminate or control any extraneous influences on behavior and obtaining a stable pattern of responding before introducing the next condition.

Question 17

Baseline

Answer 17

Original data that any changes from the independent variable can be compared against.

Question 18

Prediction

Answer 18

The anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement.

Question 19

Practice effects

Answer 19

The improvements in performance resulting from repeated opportunities to emit the behavior so that baseline measurements can be obtained.

Question 20

Affirmation of the consequent

Answer 20

Inductive logic that behavior analysts can employ after steady state responding.

Question 21

Verification

Answer 21

Can be accomplished by demonstrating that the prior level of baseline responding would have stayed the same if the independent variable was not introduced.

Question 22

Replication

Answer 22

Repeating independent variable manipulations conducted previously.