Content Area J: Intervention

Question 1

Ecological Assessment

Answer 1

In an Ecological Assessment a great deal of information is gathered about the person and the various environments in which that person lives and works.

Question 2

Reactivity

Answer 2

Reactivity refers to the effects of an assessment procedure on the behavior being assessed. Reactivity is most likey when observation is obtrussive - that is, the person being observed is aware of the observer’s presence and purpose.

Question 3

Habilitation

Answer 3

The potential meaningfulness of any behavioral change should be judged within the context of habilitation. Habilitation (adjustment) is the degree to which the person’s repertoiremaximizes short and long term reinforcers for that individual and for others, and minimizes short and long term punishers.

Question 4

Habilitation/Advantages of the definition

Answer 4

There are several advantages of the definition in that it:

(a) is conceptually familiar to behavior analysts
(b) defines tx using measurable outcomes
(c) is applicable to a wide range of habilitative activities
(d) deals with individual and societal needs in a nonjudgmental way
(e) treats adjustment along a continuum of adaptive bx and is not deficit driven
(f) culturally and situationally relative

Question 5

Function-based definition

Answer 5

Function-based definition - designates responses as members of the targeted response class solely by their common effect on the environment.

• encompases all relevant forms of the response class
• the outcome, or the function, of behavior is most important
• functional definitions are often simpler and more concise than topographically-based definitions, which leads to easier and more accurate and reliable measurement and sets the occasion for the consistent application of intervention.
• also can be used in situations in which the bx analysts does not have a direct and reliable access to the natural outcome of the target bx, or cannot use the natural outcome of the target behavior for ethical or safety reasons (e.g. elopment).

Question 6

Topography-based definition

Answer 6

A topography-based definition identifies instances of the target bx by the shape or form of the bx. Topography-based definitions should be used when the behavior analysts:

(a) does not have a direct, reliable, or easy access to the functional outcome of the target bx and /or
(b) cannot rely on the function of the bx because each instance of the target bx does not produce the relevant outcome in the natural environment or the outcome might be produced by other events.

Question 7

Definition of Target bx

Answer 7

A good definition should be:

• Objective, referring only to observable characteristics of the bx (and the environment, if needed) or translating any inferential terms (“such as expressing hostile feelings”) into more objective terms.
• Clear in that it should be readable and unambiguous so that experienced observers could read it and rapidly paraphrase it accurately.
• Complete, delineating the “bounderies” of what is to be included as an instance of the response and what to be excluded.

Question 8

Social Validity

Answer 8

Refers to the extent to which target behaviors are appropriate, intervention procedures are acceptable, and important and significant changes in target and collateral behaviors are produced.

The social validity of a study should be assessed in three ways:

• The social significance of the target bx
• The appropriatness of the procedures
• The social importance of the results