Chapters 1-5 Flashcards
Intro and basic concepts
What are the dimensions of ABA?
Generalizability, Effective, Technological, Applied, Conceptually Systematic, Analytical, Behavioral (See article notes)
3 levels of scientific understanding
Description, Prediction, and Control (p 3)
Empiricism
the practice of objective observation of the phenomena of interest (p 5)
Determinism
Philosophic position that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all events occur as the result of other events (p 5)
Experimentation
Carefully conducted comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (DV) under two or more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (IV) differs from one condition to another (p 6)
Parsimony
rule out simple, logical explanations before considering more complex or abstract explanations (p 6)
Philosophic Doubt
Continually question the truthfulness of what is regarded as fact (p 6)
Trend
Overall direction taken by a data path. (Direction, degree (steep or gradual), and variability) (2/6)
Level
The value on the vertical axis around which a series of behavioral measures converge (2/6)
Variability
The frequency and extent to which multiple measures of behavior yield different outcomes (2/6)
Functional Relation
Exists when a well controlled experiment reveals that a specific change in one event (DV) can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of another event (IV), and that the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of other extraneous factors (confounding variables) (p 4)
Stimulus class
A group of stimuli that share specified common elements along formal, temporal, and/or functional dimensions
Response Class
A group of responses of varying topography, all of which produce the same effect on the environment
Operational definition
Precise description of bx generally described by its common function or topography. Accurate, objective, complete, concise (straightforward), exclusionary criteria
Topography-Based
identifies instances of the target behavior by the shape or form of the behavior.
Reactivity
The effects of an assessment procedure on the behavior being assessed (p 55)
Describe why and how to write an operational definition
How: objective, clear, and complete
Why:
-specific instances are observed and recorded reliably
-accurate and believable evaluation of program effectiveness
-technological-meaning that it enables other to use and replicate it. Also discriminates between what is and what is not an instance (p 65 & 68)
Questions to ask about an operational definition
- Can you score frequency or duration? Yes
- Could a stranger read definition and score R? Yes
- Can definition be reduced to simpler Rs? No
Describe the fundamental dimensions of behavior
Repeatability, Temporal extent, Temporal locus
Repeatability
Countabliltiy; instances can occur repeatedly through time
Temporal extent
duration
Temporal locus
Occurs at a certain point in time in relation to other events
Define different types of interval recording
Partial, whole, and momentary time sampling
Whole Interval Recording
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred through the WHOLE interval
Partial interval recording
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred through ANY TIME during the interval
Momentary time sampling
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred at the END the interval
topography
the physical form or shape of a behavior
magnitude
The force or intensity with which a response is emitted; sometimes called amplitude
latency
the elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus to the initiation of a response. A measure of of temporal locus
interresponse time
Elapsed time between two successive responses. A measure of temporal locus
duration
A measure of the total extent of time in which a behavior occurs
trials-to-criterion
number of responses needed for a person to achieve a pre-established level of accuracy or proficiency. A special form of event recording
measurement artifact
something that appears to exist because of the way it is examined or measured
Permanent Product
Measuring the effects that the behavior produced on the environment
event recording
detecting and recording the number of times a behavior occurs
Whole Interval Recording
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred through the WHOLE interval (p 90)
Partial interval recording
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred through ANY TIME during the interval (p 92)
Momentary time sampling
- Observation period divided into intervals
- observer marks that behavior occurred IF it occurred at the END the interval (p93)
Define and describe some threats to measurement validity
- Indirect measurement-provides second-hand or ‘filtered’ info that requires the researcher or practitioner to make inferences about the relationship between the event that was measured and the behavior of interest
- Measuring wrong dimension of behavior-ex measuring frequency when rate should be measured
- Measurement artifacts-overestimating or underestimating actual occurrence. Can be due to:
- type of continuous/discontinuous measurement
- poorly scheduled measurement periods or
- insensitive and/or limited measurement scales
Factors that contribute to human error and minimizing it
- Poorly designed measurement system (simplify cumbersome systems)
- Inadequate observer training (Select observers carefully, train observers to an objective standard of competency, provide ongoing training to minimize observer drift)
- Unintended influences on observers (mitigate observer expectations by using naive observers)
- Observer reactivity (use unobtrusive methods, keep taking data until observers are habituated to observer’s presence, separating multiple observers, ect)
General purpose of interobserver agreement (IOA)
- High IOA data is likely to indicate that data recorded is close to the true amount of behavior displayed
- determine competence of new observers
- detect observer drift
- Increases confidence that the definition of the target behavior was clear and unambiguous
Accuracy of measurement
the extent to which the observed value matches the true value of the event as it exists in nature
Calibration
Any procedure used to evaluate the accuracy of a measurement system, and when sources of error are found, to use that information to correct or improve the measurement system
Discontinuous Measurement
measurement conducted in a manner such that some instances of the responses classes of the interest behavior may not be detected
Continuous Measurement
measurement conducted in a manner such that all instances of the response classes of interest are detected during the observation period
Indirect measurement
“What is actually measured is in some way different from” the target behavior of interest
Observer drift
Observers altering the way they apply a measurement system
Direct measurement
“The phenomenon that is the focus of the experiment is exactly the same as the phenomenon being measured”
Scored-interval IOA
Only intervals in which either or both observers recorded the occurrence of the target behavior are used for calculating
Unscored-interval IOA
Only intervals in which either or both observers recorded the non-occurrence of the target behavior are used for calculating
Remember to study types of IOA as well as the types of behavioral mx for which they are appropriate!
Exact IOA, Proportional IOA, and Interval IOA
Know how to implement +/- Sr and +/- Sp (procedure) and their effects on behavior (process)
Know how to implement +/- Sr and +/- Sp (procedure) and their effects on behavior (process)
