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.
Dimension #1: Applied
Requires that scientists and practitioners selecting behaviors for change that are socially significant.
Dimension #2: Behavior
Requires that variables under study be observable and measurable.
Dimension #3: Analytical
Requires that experimenters have used single subject research designs to demonstrate a functional relation, or a believable demonstration of the efficacy of an intervention.
Dimension #4: Technological
Requires the thorough and accurate description of procedures used in interventions.
Dimension #5: Conceptually Systematic
Requires that interventions used must be based on the principles of behavior and have empirical evidence supporting efficacy.
Dimension #6: Effective
Requires that improvement of behavior be socially significant and based on a visual analysis of data.
Dimension #7: Generality
Requires that behaviors last over time and appears in other environments other than that of training.
Behaviorism
Philosophical principles underpinning the science of behavior - Behavior analysis.
Principles of Behavior
Reinforcement and Punishment
Reinforcement
Refers to a consequence stimulus that increases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Punishment
Refers to a consequence stimulus that decreases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Positive Reinforcement
Refers to the delivery of something preferred that increases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Negative Reinforcement
Refers to the removal of something aversive that increases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Positive Punishment
Refers to the delivery of something aversive that decreases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Negative Punishment
Refers to the removal of something preferred that decreases the future rate of the behavior it follows.
Reinforcement Trap
A short-term contingency that reinforces maladaptive behavior is pitted against a long-term contingency that provides large reinforcers for good behavior. Maladaptive behavior that is reinforced in the short term is considered a “bad habit.” Adaptive behavior that is reinforced in the long term is considered a “good habit.”
Discriminative Stimulus (SD)
Changes in the environment that induces different activities.
Discrimination
A change in an individual’s behavior with a change in context.
Contingency
A dependent relationship between two events. A relationship between two events exists when one event is predictive of the likelihood of occurrence of the other event.
Rule
A verbal discriminative stimulus that induces an activity in the listener.
Verbal Behavior
Operant behavior on the part of a speaker that is reinforced by the behavior of the listener, under a functional control of the environment. The listener must be responding in ways which have been conditioned precisely in order to reinforce the behavior of the speaker (by the verbal community).
Stimulus Control
The relationship between a discriminative stimulus and the activity it induces.
Motivating Operation (MO)
An environmental variable that alters the reinforcing or punishing effects of a stimulus, object, event alters the frequency of all behavior reinforced or punished by that stimulus.
Mand
A verbal response that specifies its own reinforcer (requesting).
Tact
A verbal response emitted in the presence of an object or event (labeling).
Echoic
Verbal imitation
Verbal Operant
A response evoked by verbal SD point to point correspondence with the response.
Experiment
A controlled comparison of a phenomenon of interest, dependent variable, under two or more different conditions, independent variable.
Experimentation
The process of controlling variables to determine the effect of one variable on a phenomena.
Prediction
A statement of the anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement.
This term describes being able to anticipate how a behavior will occur in the future.
Verification
Demonstrating that the prior level of baseline responding would have remained unchanged had the independent variable not been introduced.
Demonstrating that the dependent variable would not change without application of an independent variable.
Replication
Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of effects and increase internal validity.
Defined as the method used to confirm efficacy and display reliability of scientific study.
Situational Ethics
The tendency to tailor behavior about good/bad, right/wrong to particular situations, rather than more generally across situations.
Operant Conditioning
Refers to organisms learning through interactions with their environment, including reinforcement.
Classical Conditioning
Refers to organisms learning through association (pairing) of a stimulus that typically produces an automatic response in the organism with a previously neutral stimulus, causing the neutral stimulus to trigger the same automatic response.
Selectionism
All forms of life evolve as a result of selection with respect to function.
Cultural Selection
Passing of behavior from one person to another by imitation and modeling.
Ontogenic Selectionism
How the environment changes an individual over his or her lifetime.
Phylogenic Selectionism
The evolutionary history of individuals originating from the contingencies that operate during the environmental history of a species.
is a term which refers to the natural evolution of a species and characteristics that are passed down through generations.
Dependent Variable
(behavior) The variable measured to determine if it changes as a result of manipulations of the independent variable.
A behavior under investigation.
Intervention Variable
(intervention) The variable that is systematically manipulated in an experiment to see whether changes in the independent variable produce reliable changes in the dependent variable.
Intervention used in an investigation to study its effect on a behavior.
Internal Validity
The extent to which the intervention is responsible for any changes in behavior - the degree of confidence.
Science
Published in peer reviewed journals.
Evidence-Based Practices (EBP).
Treatments/practices/procedures/interventions that have been shown through quality research to be effective for the individuals for whom they are designed.
Pseudoscience
Strategies, interventions, and treatments that have no scientific evidence but are regarded as being based on science. Often based on poor science, cherry-picked science, case study, or anecdote.
Free Will
The term that refers to the supposition that the origin of a person’s behavior lies within that person.
Experimental Analysis of Behavior (EAB)
Founded by Skinner, this natural science focuses on studying operant behavior as a subject matter, using single subject experimental designs rather than group designs, to measure behavior as a dependent variable.
Experimental analysis of behavior (EAB)
A natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter.
What are the 7 dimensions (characteristics) of ABA?
In order
Applied, Behavior, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, and Generality
Name the 7 verbal operants:
Mand, Tact, Echoic, Intraverbal, Autoclitic, Transcription, and Textual
Autoclitic
Adding more information to a sentence.
For example: “I love my mom.” - basic sentence
“I really love my mom!” - autoclitic response
Intraverbal
Descriptive conversations.
For example: telling stories, adding information/recalling memories, answering questions, etc.
Transcription
Writing and spelling words spoken to them.
(Check actual definition)
Textual
Reading - does not necessarily mean reading comprehension is taking place.
(Check actual definition)
Description
A collection of facts about the observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts; often suggests possible hypotheses of questions for additional research.
Prediction
A statement of the anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement. This term describes being able to anticipate how a behavior will occur in the future.
Control
Highest level of understanding; functional relations- manipulation of independent variable can be used to produce a reliable change in dependent variable that is unlikely the result of extraneous (confounding) variables.
Attitudes of Science
Determinism, Empiricism, Experimentation, Replication, Parsimony, Philosophic doubt
Definition of Applied Behavior Analysis
The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied systematically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change
Rule-governed behavior
being given a rule but the subject may or may not have come in contact with the consequence - verbal statements
Contingency shaped behavior
is when the subject has directly experienced the contingency - between two events
Premack Principle
A principle that states that making the opportunity to engage in a high-probability behavior contingent with on the occurrence of a low-frequency behavior will function as a reinforcement for the low-frequency behavior (first/then statements, such as, “First work then play”).
Pivotal Behavior
refers to a type of behavior that, when learned, leads to significant, positive changes in other related behaviors without direct intervention.
Behavioral Cusp
is a specific type of behavior that, once developed, provides the individual with opportunities to access new reinforcers, new environments, and further developmental experiences.
Difference between a pivotal behavior and a behavioral cusp
The main difference between a pivotal behavior and a behavioral cusp is the scope of their influence. Pivotal behaviors lead to improvements in other behaviors because they are central to the individual’s functioning. In contrast, behavioral cusps open up entirely new worlds of opportunity, exposing the individual to environments and contingencies that were not previously available to them.
In other words, pivotal behavior is teaching a skill that leads to the learner engaging in untrained behaviors and a behavioral cusp is when a learned behavior opens up more opportunities that were unavailable to them (for example, reading - can now read any book or learning to take a bus - can now take a bus to new locations. Also, walking and speaking are cusps.
Behavior Chain
A specific sequence of discrete responses ending with reinforcement
Task Analysis
Breaking up a complex skill into smaller teachable steps (units).
