Defining and Measuring Behavior

Question 1

2 goals of behavior analysis

Answer 1

to accurately predict behavior

to identify functional variables that may be used to influence behavior

Question 2

functional variables

Answer 2

variables that systematically and reliably influence behavior

Question 3

3 components of behavioral experiment

Answer 3

dependent variable is behavior

tests a falsifiable hypothesis

manipulate the independent variable to see if the hypothesis is supported

Question 4

if changing the independent variable systematically changes behavior, then we have identified a _______ variable

Answer 4

functional

Question 5

a good behavioral definition is…

Answer 5

very specific, leaving no room for observer bias

focused on behavior, no room for heuristics like “sleazy” or “brilliant”

objective

Question 6

interobserver agreement (IOA)

Answer 6

quantifies this level of agreement and disagreement between 2 or more observers

expressed as a percentage

if your IOA falls below 90%, you will need to refine your behavioral definition

Question 7

formula for IOA

Answer 7

agreements
—————————————- x 100
(agreements+disagreements)

Question 8

6 direct observation methods

Answer 8

outcome recording

event recording

interval recording
- partial-interval recording
- whole-interval recording

duration recording

Question 9

outcome recording

Answer 9

recording outcome of behavior that is distinct, observable, and lasting

effective way to measure behavior

should be able to tell frequency based on end product

ex. paintball

Question 10

event recording

Answer 10

each instance of the behavior is recorded as it occurs

needs to take about the same amount of time to complete

ex. sneezing

Question 11

interval recording

Answer 11

used when we are interested in response frequency but the duration of the target behavior varies from instance to instance

useful when behavior happens so fast that it is difficult to record each response

Question 12

partial-interval recording

Answer 12

divide the observation period into equal, contiguous intervals of time

record whether the behavior occurred ay any time during the interval

Question 13

whole-interval recording

Answer 13

same as partial interval but the behavior must occur throughout the observation interval to be recorded

Question 14

duration recording

Answer 14

used to record how long a behavior lasts

start the timer when the behavior starts, and stop it when the behavior ends

Question 15

latency recording

Answer 15

how long it takes for a behavior to begin after an event has occurred

behavior needs to have a clear beginning

Question 16

how long a student takes to respond to a teacher’s question; how long a teenager begins to fold laundry after placed in a room, how long after a triggering event does a child become upset, etc.

these are examples of …

Answer 16

latency recording

Question 17

do you know the ch. 2 flow chart (pg. 35)?

Answer 17

yes obvi