Final Exam Flashcards
Functional Relation
a verbal statement summarizing the results of an experiment (or group of experiments) that describes the occurrence of the phenomena under study as a function of the operation of one or more specified and controlled variables in the experiment in which a specific change in one event (the dependent variable) can be produced by manipulating another event (independent variable) and that change in the dependent variable was unlikely the result from other factors (confounding behaviors)
Hypothetical construct
a presumed but unobserved process or entity (Freud’s id, ego, and superego)
ex. explaining someones behavior by saying the person must be feeling self conscious therefore they acted as they did.
We cannot see of measure this thought process
Mentalism
the idea that inner thoughts and feelings are what cause behaviors
Behavior
that portion of an organisms interaction with its environment that involves movement of some part of the organism
7 dimensions of ABA
Applied Behavioral Analytic Technological Effective Generality Conceptually systematic
Reinforcement
a basic principle of behavior describing a response-consequence functional relation in which a response is followed immediately by a stimulus change that results in similar responses occurring more often
Positive reinforcement
a response followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus change that results in similar responses occurring more often
Negative reinforcement
the occurrence of a response is followed immediately by the termination, reduction, postponement or avoidance of the stimulus, which leads to an increase in the future occurrence of similar responses.
History of reinforcement
all of a person’s learning experiences and more specifically to past conditioning with respect to particular response classes or aspects of a persons repertoire. People will react differently to different stimulus because of these past experiences
Environment
the conglomerate of real circumstances in which the organism or referenced part of the organism exists; behavior cannot occur in the absence of this
Premack principle
a highly preferred activity is used as a reinforcer for a behavior that is not very preferred. Ex. first, then. Fist shape sorter then puzzle.
Three methods of science
Description
Prediction
Control
Escape
the response terminates (produces escape) from ongoing stimulus
Avoidance
a response prevents or postpones the presentation of a stimulus
ABA
the science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for the behavior.
Dependent Variable
the measured behavior in an experiment to determine if it changes as a result of manipulations of the independent variable; in ABA it represents some measure of a socially signifiant behavior.
independent variable
the variable that is systematically manipulated by the researcher in an experiment to see whether changes in the independent variable produce reliable changes in the dependent variable. In ABA it is usually an environmental event of condition antecedent or consequence to the dependent variable.
Secondary reinforcer or conditioned reinforcer
a stimulus change that functions as a reinforcer because of prior pairing with one or more other reinforcers.
Secondary Punisher or conditioned punisher
a previously neutral stimulus change that functions as a punisher because of prior pairings with one or more other punisher
Primary reinforcer or unconditioned reinforcer
a stimulus change that increases the frequency of any behavior that immediately precedes it irrespective of the organisms learning history with the stimulus. A product of the evolutionary development of the species.
primary punisher or unconditioned punisher
a stimulus change that decreases the frequency of any behavior that immediately precedes it irrespective of the organisms learning history with that stimulus. Products of the evolutionary development of the species meaning that all members of the species are more or less susceptible to punishment by the presentation of unconditioned punishers.
Topography
defines instances of the target response class by the shape or form of the behavior. What is the form of the behavior? what does it look like?
Function based definition
designates responses as members of the targeted response class solely in terms of their common effect on the environment. (attention seeking behavior) what is the function of the behavior?
Magnitude
the force or intensity with which a response is emitted; provides important quantitative parameters used in defining and verifying the occurrence of some response classes.
Frequency
how often a behavior occurs. some behavior analysts use frequency to mean rate ( a ratio of responses per standard unit of time) other use frequency as a synonym for count.
Duration
the total time that the behavior occurs. measured by elapsed time from the onset of a response to its end point
Latency
a measure of temporal locus. the elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus (task, direction, cue) to the initiation of the response.
Interresponse time (IRT)
a measure of temporal locus. defined as the elapsed time between two successive responses. ex. time that passes after one tantrum ends and the next one begins.
Rate
a fundamental measure of how often behavior occurs expressed as count per standard unit of time. ( per min, hour,day) and calculated by dividing the number of responses recorded by the number of standards units of time in which the observations were conducted.
Momentary time sampling
a measurement method on which the presence or absence of behavior is recorded at precisely specified time intervals
Whole interval recording
a time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically 5 to 15 seconds). At the end of each interval, the observer records whether the target behavior occurred throughout the entire interval; tends to underestimate the overall percentage of the observation period in which the target behavior actually occurred.
Partial interval recording
a time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period if divided into a series of brief time intervals, typically 5-10 seconds. The observed then records whether the behavior occurred at any time during the interval. It is not concerned with how many times the behavior occurred during the interval or how long the behavior was present. only that it occurred at some point during the interval. Tends to be an overestimate of the proportion of how much the behavior occurred.
Reactivity
effects of an observation and measurement procedure on the behavior being measured. This is most likely to happen when the measurement procedures are obtrusive, especially if the person being observed is aware of the observers presence and purpose.
Target behavior
the response class selected for intervention; can be defined either functionally or topographically. Must be functional. EX. Losing weight is not a behavior but deceasing food intake or increasing exercise is and can be measured.
How to write a target behavior
a complete definition of the target behavior discriminates between what is and what is not an instance of the target behavior.
Should be objective time and referring only to observable characteristics of the behavior and the environment.
-a good definition is operational
-a good definition increases the likelihood of an accurate and believable evaluation of a programs effectiveness.
Attitudes of Science
Determinism Empiricism Extermination Replication Parsimony Philosophical Douby
Determinism
The idea that events happened because of other events. There are reasons why things happen. ex.someone crashing their car because they were texting
Empiricism
the researcher must be objective during their observation and measurements of what they are studying. They do not let their personal beliefs and opinions influence their thinking. ex. a scientist putting aside their political views while working on creating a vaccine
Experimentation
the dependent variable and independent variable are measured in a controlled way
Replication
the repeating of experiments. Through this process scientists can determine the reliability of their findings.
Parsimony
when a researcher eliminates the simplest explanations for why something is happening and are then able to study or consider the more complex possibilities. ex. child is throwing at school and teacher says it is because they are frustrated. The reacher eliminates this idea and makes observations to determine if something is occurring before or after the act of throwing to reinforce this behavior.
Philosophical doubt
an attitude that the truthfulness and validity of all scientific theory and knowledge should be continually questioned.
Respondent behavior
the response component of a reflex; behavior that is elicited or induced, by antecedent stimuli
Reflex
a stimulus response relation consisting of an antecedent stimulus and the respondent behavior it elicits (ex. bright light-pupil contraction). unconditioned and conditioned reflexes protect against harmful stimuli, help regulate the internal balance and economy of the organism and promote reproduction.
Operant behavior
behavior that is selected, maintained, and brought under stimulus control as a function of its consequences. each person’s repertoire of these behaviors is a product of history of interactions with the environment.
Elicit
respondent behavior is elicited
Evoke
operant behavior is evoked
Satiation
a decrease in the frequency of operant behavior presumed to be the result of continued contact with or consumption of a reinforcer that has followed the behavior; also refers to reducing effectiveness of a reinforcer (ex. presenting a person with copious amounts of a reinforcing stimulus prior to a session)
Deprivation
the state of and organism with respect to how much time has elapsed since it has consumed or contacted a particular type of reinforcer; also refers to a procedure for increasing the effectiveness of a reinforcer (ex. withholding a person’s access to a reinforcer for a specified period prior to session.)
Punishment
a basic principle of behavior describing a response-consequence functional relation in which a response is followed immediately by a stimulus change that decreases the future occurrences of that type of behavior
Positive punishment
a response followed immediately by the presentation of a stimulus that decreases the future frequency of the behavior
Negative Punishment
a response behavior followed immediately by removal of a stimulus (or a decrease in the intensity of the stimulus) that results in similar responses occurring less often.
Three term contingency
Basic unit of analysis in the analysis operant behavior; encompasses the temporal and possibly dependent relations among an Antecedent Stimulus- Behavior- and Consequence
Antecedent Stimulus
an environmental condition or stimulus change existing or occurring prior to the behavior of interest
Consequence
a stimulus change that follows a behavior of interest. Some consequences, especially those that a re immediate and relevant to current motivational states, have significant influence on future behavior, others have little effect.
Experimental Analysis of Behavior
a natural science approach to the study of behavior as a subject matter in its own right founded by B.F skinner. Methodological features include rate of response as a basic dependent variable, repeated continuous measurement of clearly defined response classes, within subject experimental comparisons instead of group design, visual analysis of graphed data instead of statistical inference, and an emphasis on describing functional relations between behavior and controlling variables in the environment over formal theory testing.
Behaviorism
The philosophy of a science of behavior; there are various forms of behaviorism. Radical, mentalism and methodological
Defining characteristics of ABA
Applied
Behavioral
Analytic
Applied
refers to working on behaviors that will help the client in their day to day life. Ex woking on language skills or activities of daily life
Behavioral
the specific behavior in need of improvement. This behavior must be able to be measured as well as studied through direct observation. Must study not only the participants behavior change but the researchers behavior change as well.
Analytic
the researcher must be able to have experimental control as well as be able to show a functional relation between the dependent and the independent variables.
