Chapters 1-3

Question 1

__________ behaviours are objectively measurable and observable to others, __________ behaviours are private and not directly observable to others.

Answer 1

Covert, overt.

Question 2

In behaviour modification, what is the behaviour of interest meant to be modified called?

Answer 2

Target behaviour.

Question 3

In the context of behaviour modification, what is a response? What is a response class?

Answer 3

Response: one instance or occurrence of a behaviour.
Response class: group of responses with the same function.

Question 4

What is a repertoire?

Answer 4

The collection of all behaviours one can perform.

Question 5

What are the three aspects of psychology?

Answer 5

Theoretical, Experimental, Applied.

Question 6

What are the three branches of the scientific study of behaviour and learning.

Answer 6

Behaviourism, Experimental Analysis of Behaviour (EAB), Behaviour Modification (‘b-mod’).

Question 7

What is behaviour modification?

Answer 7

A branch of the study of behaviour involving changing environment in order to change behaviour with the goal of improving people’s lives.

Question 8

What is applied behaviour analysis (ABA) and how does it differ from behaviour modification (b-mod)?

Answer 8

ABA uses knowledge about human behaviour to reduce socially undesirable behaviours and/or increase desirable ones. It is a subset of b-mod, mostly applying operant conditioning.

Question 9

What are the ABCs of behaviour, as outlined in the S-R-S model/three-term contingency?

Answer 9

Antecedent: stimulus
Behaviour: response, producing
Consequences: also a stimulus/event, reinforcement or punishment

Question 10

Experimental analysis of behaviour (EAB) employs a __________-__________ experimental design.

Answer 10

Within-subject.

Question 11

What are the four phases of a behaviour modification program?

Answer 11

1. Screening/Intake Phase
2. Preprogram Assessment Phase or Baseline Phase
3. Treatment Phase
4. Follow-up Phase

Question 12

Define target behaviour, behavioural goal, and outcome goal.

Answer 12

Target behaviour: the behaviour that you are interested in changing; the ‘what’
Behavioural goal: the level of the target behaviour that a program is designed to achieve
Outcome goal: broad, abstract result that one wishes to attain; the ‘why’

Question 13

Define the dimensions of frequency, duration, latency, intensity, and quality.

Answer 13

Frequency: number of responses in a given period
Duration: length of time of behaviour
Latency: time between antecedent stimulus/event and onset of behaviour
Intensity: assessment of strength/magnitude of behaviour, often with a rating scale
Quality: often arbitrary judgment of social value, may use a rating scale

Question 14

A precise, objective definition of a term by specifying the operations the researcher or observer made to measure it; the ‘how’.

Answer 14

Operational definition.

Question 15

How do natural and analogue settings differ?

Answer 15

Natural setting: behaviour observed in its typical environment
Analogue setting: behaviour observed in simulated location

Question 16

How do structured and unstructured observation differ?

Answer 16

Structured observation is systematic, observations are made while instructions are given/specific events are planned to occur systematically.

Unstructured observation occurs without instructions or altering events/activities.

Question 17

What is reactivity?

Answer 17

When recording/measuring a behaviour affects its occurrence.

Question 18

Describe continuous recording. What else is continuous recording called?

Answer 18

Continuous recording (a.k.a. event recording) records every instance of client’s behaviour during the entire observation period.

Question 19

How do interval recording and time sample recording differ?

Answer 19

Interval recording’s recording intervals are successive, time sample recording’s recording intervals are separated in time.

Question 20

How do partial-interval recording and whole-interval recording differ?

Answer 20

Partial-interval records behaviour a maximum of once per interval, regardless of how many times it occurs,

Whole-interval records behaviour only if it persists during the entire interval.

Question 21

What is the advantage of an ABC observation checklist?

Answer 21

Once antecedents and consequences have been identified, they can be more quickly recorded.

Question 22

What is inter-observer agreement? How high does it have to be to be considered consistent?

Answer 22

A statistic calculated to determine consistency in recording of target behaviour. Assessment should be at least 90% to be considered consistent.

Question 23

What are the six required components of a line graph (in the context of graphing behaviour modification)?

Answer 23

1. Axis lines
2. Axis labels
3. Numbers on Axes
4. Data points and connecting lines
5. Phase lines
6. Phase labels

Question 24

The treatment applied to the client is the (independent/dependent) variable, the target behaviour is the (independent/dependent) variable.

Answer 24

Independent, dependent.

Question 25

What does establishing a functional relationship require?

Answer 25

An IV-DV relationship, replication.

Question 26

Describe an A-B research design.

Answer 26

One baseline phase (A) and one treatment phase (B).

Question 27

Describe an A-B-A-B (reversal) research design.

Answer 27

Has two baseline phases and two treatment phases. Can establish causality but can have ethical concerns around revoking beneficial treatment.

Question 28

Describe a multiple-baseline design, and the 3 types of them.

Answer 28

More than one A-B design carried out (different from reversal design).

Multiple baseline across subjects
Multiple baseline across behaviours
Multiple baseline across settings

Question 29

Describe alternating-treatment of multi-element research designs.

Answer 29

Baseline and treatment (or two treatment) phases are applied in rapid succession.

Treatment effects shown by fractionation: consistent vertical separation between treatment curves.

Question 30

Describe changing-criterion research designs.

Answer 30

The criterion for successful treatment progressively changes. Uses A-B design but goal for target behaviour changes in treatment phase.