Descriptions and Characteristics of Applied Behavior Analysis Flashcards
Description Level of Understanding
Collection of facts about observed events that can be quantified, classified, and examined for possible relations with other known facts
Often suggests hypotheses or questions for additional research
Methodological behaviorism
these early behaviorist either denied the existence of “inner variables” or considered them outside the realm of scientific account
Empiricism
Practice of objective observation of phenomena of interest, free from personal opinion/bias - “empirical research”
What all scientific knowledge is built upon
“Objective” is the key to gaining a better understanding of what is being studied
Generality
Produces behavior changes that last over time…
Appear in other environments (other than the one in which intervention was implemented)…
Or spread to other behaviors (those not directly treated by the intervention)
Behaviorism
The philosophy of the science of behavior. various forms-methodological and radical
Radical behaviorism
includes and seeks to understand all human behavior, including private events
Parsimony
The idea that simple, logical explanations must be ruled out, experimentally or conceptually, before more complex or abstract explanations are considered
Help scientists fit findings within the field’s existing knowledge base
Mentalism
an approach to the study of behavior which assumes that a mental or “inner” dimension exist that differs from a behavioral dimension.
Experimental Analysis of Behavior
Skinner recorded the rate at which a single subject emitted a given behavior in a controlled and standardized experimental chamber.
Replication
The repetition of experiments to determine the reliability and usefulness of findings
Includes the repetition of independent variable conditions within experiments
Method for which mistakes are discovered
Explanatory fiction
a fictitious variable that often is simply another name for the observed behavior that contributes nothing to an understanding of variables that develop or maintain behavior.
Determinism
Assumption upon which science is predicted
Presumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events
Events do not just occur at will
Events are related in systematic ways
Antithesis of fatalism, accidentalism
Applied Behavior Analysis
Behavior analysis is comprised of three major branches
Behaviorism
Philosophy of the science of behavior
Experimental analysis of behavior (EAB)
Basic research
Applied behavior analysis (ABA)
Development of a technology for improving behavior
Can only be understood in the context of the philosophy & basic research traditions & findings
Defining Characteristics of ABA
Baer, Wolf, and Risley (1968) recommended the following seven defining dimensions for research or behavior change programs:
Applied Behavioral Analytic Technological Conceptual Effective Generality
Analytic
The experimenter can demonstrate a functional relationship and control the occurrence and nonaccurence of the behavior
Effective
Improves behavior sufficiently to produce practical results for the participant(s)
Improvements in behavior must reach clinical or social significance
Extent to which changes in the target behavior(s) result in noticeable changes
Science
A systematic approach to the understanding of natural phenomena as evidenced by description, prediction and control, that relies on determinism as its prime directive, experimentation as basic strategy, replication as necessary for believability, parsimony as a conservative value, and philosophic doubt as guiding conscience
Behavioral
Precise measurement of the actual behavior in need of improvement & documents that it was the participant’s behavior that changed
The behavior in need of improvement and it is a study of behavior (not about behavior)
The behavior must be measurable
Important to note whose behavior has changed
Experimentation
Basic strategy in most sciences
Experiment:
Controlled comparison of some measure of the phenomenon of interest (dependent variable) under two of more different conditions in which only one factor at a time (independent variable) differs from one condition to another
Prediction Level of Understanding
Observed Correlations that are regular enough to predict that when one event occurs, another is likely to follow
Relative probability that when one event occurs, another event will or will not occur
Based on repeated observation revealing relationships between various events
Demonstrates correlation between events
No causal relationships can be interpreted
Enables preparation
Hypothetical construct
a presumed but unobserved process or entity (e.g. Frued’s ego, id, and super ego
Applied
Investigates socially significant behaviors with immediate importance to the participant; i.e functional skills
Examples include behaviors such as: Social Language Academic Daily living Self-care Vocational Recreation and/or leisure
Philosophic Doubt
The continuous questioning of the truthfulness and validity of all scientific theory and knowledge
Involves the use of scientific evidence before implementing a new practice, then constantly monitoring the effectiveness of the practice after its implementation
Purpose of Science
Systematic approach for seeking & organizing knowledge about the natural world
ABA – socially important behaviors
Control Level of Understanding
Functional relations can be derived; i.e. a specific manipulation of the IV will create a specific change in the DV, which is not caused by confounding variables.
However, note that events can only really be “co-related;” we cannot know for certain that one causes another because it is nearly impossible to factor out all other possible “causes”
Technological
Written description of all procedures in the study is sufficiently complete and detailed enough to enable others to replicate it
All operative procedures are identified and described in detail & clarity
Replicable technology
Conceptually Systematic
Behavior change interventions are derived from basic principles of behavior
Better enable research consumer to derive other similar procedures from the same principle(s)
Assist in integrating discipline into a system instead of a “collection of tricks”
Functional Relation
Specific change in one event (dependent variable)….
Can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of another event (independent variable)…
And the change in the dependent variable was unlikely to be the result of other extraneous factors (confounding variables)
