Defining Target Behaviors

Question 1

Before a behavior undergoes behavior analysis…

Answer 1

it must be defined in
a clear, objective, and concise manner

Question 2

In constructing target
behavior definitions, ABA’s must consider…

Answer 2

the
functional and topographical implications of their definitions.

Question 3

Why must target definitions be explicit and well-written?

Answer 3

Without explicit, well-written definitions
of target behaviors, researchers would be unable to accurately
and reliably measure the same response classes within and across
studies; or to aggregate, compare, and interpret their data.

Question 4

Why are explicit, well written definitions important for the practitioner?

Answer 4

Provides an accurate, ongoing evaluation of the target behavior.

Question 5

What two things does a good behavioral definition provide?

Answer 5

It is operational and it provides accurate and believable evaluation of the program’s effectiveness.

Question 6

What does operational mean?

Answer 6

Provides opportunity to obtain complete information about behavior’s occurrence/nonoccurrence. enables practitioner to apply procedures in a consistently accurate and timely fashion.

Question 7

What does accuracy provide about a definition?

Answer 7

Guide ongoing program decisions

Question 8

What does believability provide about a definition?

Answer 8

Evaluates the program’s effectiveness for those with vested interest.

Question 9

What is a function based definition?

Answer 9

Designates responses as members of the targeted response class solely by their common effect on the environment

Question 10

Why should ABA’s use function-based definitions whenever possible?

Answer 10

1. Includes all relevant forms of the response class. 2. The function/outcome of behavior is most important 3. More concise than topographical definitions.

Question 11

What is a topography-based definition?

Answer 11

A topography-based definition identifies instances of the target behavior by the shape or form of the behavior.

Question 12

When should a topography based definition be used?

Answer 12

BA 1. does not have direct, reliable, or easy access to the functional outcome of the target behavior and/or 2. target behavior does not produce the relevant outcome in the natural
environment or the outcome might be produced by other events 3. the relevant outcome is produced by undesirable variations of the response class.

Question 13

What are three characteristics of a good target behavior definition? Hawkins and Dobes (1977)

Answer 13

The definition should be objective, clear, and complete. (Figure 3.10 3.11)

Question 14

What does an objective definition enable?

Answer 14

Increases likelihood of an accurate and believable evaluation of program effectiveness.

Question 15

What does a clear objective enable?

Answer 15

Technological, enables others to use and replicate it.

Question 16

What does a complete definition enable?

Answer 16

Allows others to record an occurrence and nonoccurrence of a target behavior.

Question 17

to be valid from an applied perspective, definitions of target
behaviors should be…

Answer 17

situation specific. Attempts to standardize behavior definitions assume an unlikely similarity across
all situations.

Question 18

How can targeting important behaviors achieve social validity?

Answer 18

changing those behaviors in a positive and meaningful way

Question 19

What does Van Houten (1979) suggest are two basic approaches to determining socially valid goals?

Answer 19

a) assess the performance of
people judged to be highly competent and (b) experimentally manipulate different levels of performance to determine empirically which produces optimal results.

Question 20

How much does a target
behavior need to change before it makes a meaningful difference in the person’s life? (Van Houten (1979)

Answer 20

In order to know when to initiate and terminate a treatment, practitioners require socially validated standards
for which they can aim. (pp. 582, 583

Question 21

How much does a target
behavior need to change before it makes a meaningful difference in the person’s life?

Answer 21

practitioners require socially validated standards
for which they can aim

Question 22

What should we do before intervention begins?

Answer 22

Regardless of the method used, specifying treatment goals
before intervention begins provides a guideline for continuing
or terminating a treatment