CHP 2 UNDERSTANDING BEHAVIORAL RESEARCH

Question 1

Variables

Answer 1

things that aren’t the same and can be changed

Question 2

Dependent variable

Answer 2

the objectively measured target behavior

Question 3

Functional variables

Answer 3

Biological (nature)
Environmental (nurture)

Question 4

Independent variable

Answer 4

the variable that’s manipulated

Question 5

Correlation

Answer 5

co-occurrence of variables (NOT CAUSATION!!)

Question 6

Causation

Answer 6

functional relationship between variables

Question 7

3 components of Behavioral Experiments

Answer 7

1) the dependent variable is the objectively measured target behavior
2) falsifiable hypothesis (has the ability to be proven wrong)
3) manipulation of the ind var (turning it on and off)

Question 8

Self-report

Answer 8

asks the individ if they recall having engaged in the behavior (can only be used if the reports are empirically validated (provide useful and accurate info abt target behavior))

Question 9

Benefits of self-report

Answer 9

IF reports are empirically validated, it can be used to provide accurate and useful info about the target behavior

Question 10

Drawbacks of self-report

Answer 10

people have a bad memory, social desirability bias (people want to be liked), people want to be good patients (good subject effect), people are swayed by incentives

Question 11

Direct observation

Answer 11

behavior is recorded as it occurs, or a lasting product of the behavior is recorded after

Question 12

Benefits of direct observation

Answer 12

doesn’t rely on memory, easier to ensure data collection is unbiased, behavioral definitions and interobserver agreement (IOA) provides believability

Question 13

Behavioral definition

Answer 13

precise specification of the topography (physical form) of the target behavior so observers can reliably and objectively identify instances and non-instances
*requires SOCIAL VALIDITY and interobserver agreement (IOA) to test its objectivity

Question 14

social validity

Answer 14

the consumer of the intervention or an expert approves the behavioral definition as accurately reflecting the behavior of interest

Question 15

Interobserver agreement (IOA)

Answer 15

two independent people use the behavioral definition to make observations. If their data is the same, the definition is good

Question 16

IOA equation

Answer 16

IOA = (Agreements/Agreements + Disagreements) x 100

Question 17

IOA

Answer 17

an IOA lower than 90% is unacceptable and requires a redefinition
IOA increases believability, doesn’t assess reliability or test accuracy

Question 18

Frequency

Answer 18

the response count/time or opportunity to respond

Question 19

Latency

Answer 19

the interval of time between the opportunity to respond and the actual response

Question 20

Duration

Answer 20

the interval of time between the start and end of the behavior

Question 21

Magnitude

Answer 21

force or intensity of a behavior

Question 22

4 Direct-Observation Methods

Answer 22

1) outcome recording
2) event recording
3) interval recording
4) duration recording

Question 23

Outcome recording

Answer 23

observers record PRODUCTS of the behavior rather than the behavior itself (alleviates issues of cost and reactivity (the subject changes behavior bc they know they’re being watched))

Question 24

Event recording

Answer 24

each instance of behavior is recorded at the moment it occurs (useful for recording FREQUENCY AND MAGNITUDE of behavior)
*only used when the behavior’s duration is stable

Question 25

Interval recording

Answer 25

measures the frequency of behavior (use when duration of behavior fluctuates)

Question 26

Whole-interval recording

Answer 26

record whether or not a behavior occurs in several contiguous (back-to-back) time intervals (behavior must occur throughout the ENTIRE interval in order to be a positive interval)

Question 27

Partial-interval recording

Answer 27

direct observation of whether or not behavior occurs (at least ONE TIME) over several contiguous (back-to-back) intervals of a brief and fixed duration

Question 28

Duration recording

Answer 28

used to measure latency or duration of a target behavior (ex. races, fulfilling orders)

Question 29

Diagnosis

Answer 29

is a PREDICTION of your behavior (NOT THERAPY)