Definitions Flashcards
Latency
This measurement of behavior involves recording the length of time between some antecedent stimuli or cue and the onset of the behavior.
Frequency
This measurement method involves counting the number of behaviors one observes.
Duration
This measurement of behavior involves recording how long a behavior lasts.
Inter-response Time
This measurement method involves recording the length of time from the offset of one behavior and the onset of the next behavior.
Partial Interval Recording
This measurement method involves scoring the behavior as occurring if it happened at any point during an interval.
Whole Interval Recording
This measurement method involves scoring the behavior as occurring if it happens the entire length of an interval.
Momentary Time Sampling
This measurement method involves scoring the behavior as occurring if it is happening at the end of an interval.
Operational Definition of Behavior
Behavior analysts achieve this when they describe the target in observable and measurable terms.
PLA-CHECK
This is a variation on Momentary Time Sampling that involves counting the number of students in a classroom engaged in a target behavior at the designated time in the interval.
Interobserver Agreement
This test for reliability is conducted through comparing recorded data of two independent observers using specific formulas based on type.
Trials to Criterion
This recording method requires identification of the number of sessions required to achieve mastery of the target skill or behavior.
Evidence-Based Practices
Term used to describe when an intervention has gone through rigorous, high quality experimentation and has been considered to be of value for specific individuals and/or behaviors of interest.
Independent Variable
A term synonymous with “intervention.”
Dependent Variable
A term synonymous with “behavior.”
Validity
Means “accuracy” of an experiment.
Internal Validity
…is considered high when there is clear experimental control.
External Validity
A term referring to the replication of the same or similar results from an experiment; in other words, the degree to which findings have generality across studies.
Social Validity
Refers to a socially significant behavior of interest/focus of research.
Reliability
Means “consistency” of an experiment.
Experimental Control
When this is demonstrated, we have verified that there is a functional relation between the independent and dependent variables - that is, that the change in the dependent variable (behavior) is causally (functionally) related to the implementation of the independent variable
Functional Relation
Visually demonstrated (through visual analysis of the graphed data) control of the behavior by the intervention
Demonstration of Effect
A clear and obvious change in the dependent variable either when an independent variable is introduced or removed during experimentation
Systematic Replication
Carrying out a series of studies on one’s own research or carrying out the exact or expanding on the research of others.
Inter-participant Direct Replication
An investigator’s attempts to repeat an experimental effect across participants in the same study.
Intra-participant Direct Replication
An investigator’s attempts to repeat an experimental effect with the same participant.
Demonstration Question
Basic experiment examining whether an intervention is effective at changing (increasing or decreasing) the behavior of interest.
Comparison Question
Experiment examining which of two or more interventions are more effective at changing (increasing or decreasing) the behavior of interest.
Component Analysis Question
Experiment examining what parts of a package intervention are needed for changing (increasing or decreasing) the behavior of interest.
Parametric Question
Experiment examining how much of an intervention is needed to be effective at changing(increasing or decreasing) the behavior of interest.
Parsimony
Scientific explanation that emphasizes simplicity and reliance on well-established knowledge.
Ruling out simple, logical explanations first before moving on to more complex or abstract explanations.
Pragmatism
The notion that a question is only worth pursuing if the answer to it would change our knowledge of the world.
Empiricism
Knowledge based on experience.
It’s used to describe scientists’ use of sensory (observable) information to come to conclusions, rather than preconceived ideas or biases.
Realism
The view of the world that assumes that only the natural world, presupposes an absolute truth.
Mentalism
An assumption of an “inner” dimension as an explanation of behavior.
Determinism
An assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which phenomena occur in relation to other events, not in accidental fashion.
Dualism
The assumption of two different types of existence - an inner-world and an outer-world.
Private Event
An event that can only be observed and verified by the individual performing the behavior.
Public Event
An event observed by another person.
Natural Event
An event that is located in time and space in the natural world.
Explanatory Fiction
A fictitious variable that often is simply another name for the observed behavior, which implies an inner cause for the behavior.
Methodological Behaviorism
Refers to a philosophical position in which behavioral events that cannot be observed are not behaviors.
Radical Behaviorism
Represents Skinner’s “far-reaching” and “thoroughgoing” form of behaviorism that includes both public and private behaviors.
Applied Behavior Analysis
This is the science in which the principles of behavior are used to improve socially important behaviors and experimental analysis is used to determine which variables are responsible for improvement.