Displaying and Interpreting Behavioral Data Flashcards
- Medium with which the behavior analyst works.
- Results of measurement.
- Empirical basis for decision-making.
- It is difficult to assess what is happening with the target you are trying to measure if you only use raw ______; this is why ABA uses graphs.
Data
- Visual format for displaying data.
- Reveals relations between a series of measurements and relevant variables.
- Helps people make sense of quantitative information.
- How behavior analysts organize, store, interpret, and communicate the results of our work.
Graphs
Three (3) Purposes of Graphs: CAID
- Communicate: Communicates our data.
- Assess: Helps us to assess data correctly.
- IV/DV: Shows how the DV and IV are related to each other.
- ) Gives you an immediate picture of an individual’s behavior.
- ) Allows you to explore interesting variations in behavior as they are occurring.
- ) Acts as a judgmental aid to help you interpret the results of a study or treatment.
- ) Acts as a conservative method for determining the significance of behavior change, because a behavior change that is statistically significant may not look impressive on a graph.
- ) Allows for an independent judgement and evaluation of the data.
5 Benefits of Graphs
5 Types of ABA Graphs: LBCSS
- Line Graph
- Bar Graph
- Cumulative Record
- Scatter Plot
- Standard Celeration Chart
AKA: Arithmetic Charts; Add-Subtract Charts
- Graphs in which the distance between any 2 consecutive points on BOTH THE X-AXIS AND Y-AXIS are always the same.
- All intervals are the same size.
Line graphs, scatter plots, bar graphs, and cumulative records are: _________ ____________.
Equal-Interval Graphs
Logarithmic scales, including semi-logarithmic scales, one of which is the standard celeration chart, look at behavior through proportionate or relative change.
They are examples of: _________ _________ ______.
Non-Equal Interval Graphs
AKA: Frequency Polygons
- Most common used graphs in ABA.
- Based on the CARTESIAN PLANE.
- Each point on _____ _______ shows the level of some quantifiable dimension of the DV in relation to the IV in effect when the data was recorded.
Line Graphs
- 2-dimensional area formed by 2 perpendicular lines that intersect.
Cartesian Plane
Comparing data points lets us examine:
LEVEL, TREND, and VARIABILITY
Use _______ _________ when you want your data to effectively communicate the following relevant quantitative relations:
- Data that can be scaled along some dimension, such as time or the order of responses in a sequence.
Line Graphs
Seven (7) Parts of A Line Graph
- Horizontal Axis (X-Axis or Abscissa) (Line Left _ Right)
- Vertical Axis (Y-Axis or Ordinate) (Line Up | Down)
- Condition Change Lines
- Condition Labels
- Data Points
- Data Path
- Figure Caption
AKA: X-Axis or Abscissa (Line Left _ Right)
- Represents passage of time and the presence, absence, or value of the IV.
- Left to right passing of time in equal intervals.
- Tic marks are placed on this with equal spacing between them.
- Utilizing a scale break (= or //) to represent discontinuities in time (times was not taken due to some reason)
Horizontal Axis
AKA: Y-Axis or Ordinate (Line Up | Down)
- Represents the full range of values of the DV (i.e., quantifiable aspect of the target behavior).
- On an equal-interval graph, the scaling of this axis is really important to see changes in the level, trend, and variability in the data.
Vertical Axis
Intersection of the horizontal and vertical axis.
- Usually represents the zero value of the DV.
- Should be marked at zero.
Origin
The vertical lines drawn upward from the x-axis to show points in time at which changes in the IV occurred.
Solid Lines = Major Changes
Dashed Lines = Minor Changes
Condition Change Lines
A label, written at the top and parallel to the x-axis, that describes the experimental conditions in effect during each phase of research.
Condition Labels
Has 2 meanings:
- A quantifiable measure of the target behavior recorded during a given observation period.
- The time and/or experimental conditions under which that particular measurement was conducted.
Data Points
Always displayed as (x, y)
Coordinates
- Connects successive data points with a straight line. Illustrates level and trend of behavior between 2 consecutive data points.
- The ____ ______ should be examined to interpret graphs.
- A maximum of 4 different ______ _______ can displayed effectively on 1 set of axes.
Data Path
- Concise statement that provides information to identify the IV and DV. Also explains symbols used an unplanned events.
- Printed below graph.
Figure Caption
- Line graphs can be vary complicated, especially when multiple data paths are represented.
- Line graphs that are more complex than what we typically may utilize:
1. Two (2) or more DIMENSIONS of the same behavior.
2. Two (2) or more different BEHAVIORS.
3. Measure of the same behavior under DIFFERENT CONDITIONS.
4. Changing VALUES of the IV.
5. Same behavior of two (2) or MORE PARTICIPANTS.
Line Graph Variations
AKA: Histograms
- Based on the CARTESIAN PLANE, similar to the line graph.
- However, there are NO distinct data points representing successive response measures through time.
- Does NOT allow for analysis of variability and trend in behavior.
CANNOT BE USED WITH TIME.
Bar Graph
Use Bar Graphs When You Want Your Data To:
Effectively communicate the following relative quantitative relations:
1. Displaying separate sets of data the ARE NOT related to each another.