Observing and Recording Behaviour & Ethics

Question 1

What is within subject experimental design

Answer 1

One person’s response is compared to their own response in a different situation

Question 2

Phases of behaviour modification program, what they are

Answer 2

1. Screening: obtain client information, reasons for seeking assistance
   -b-mod? Crisis condition? Diagnose, treatment eligibility/insurance
2. Baseline phase: define and measure initial baseline level of behaviour
3. Treatment phase: apply training, intervention, treatment program
4. Follow-up phase: determine effects on behaviour

Question 3

During behaviour assessment, who is being assessed? Who is the observer?

Answer 3

Assessed = client (not patient), use person first language

Assessor = professional, layperson, self-monitored

Question 4

Behaviour goal definition? Outcome goal?

Answer 4

Behaviour goal = level of the target behaviour that a program is designed to achieve

Outcome goal = broad result that one wishes to attain; “why”

Question 5

Example of related target behaviour, behaviour goal and outcome goal

Answer 5

TB = drinking more water
BG = I want to drink 1 litre of water per day, five days a week
OG = to be healthy

Question 6

Guidelines for behavioural assessment

Answer 6

Avoid labels (like depressed), describe objectively
Use active verbs (X dropped the keys)
No inference about internal states or motivations
Defined so multiple people can agree (IOA)

Question 7

Six common dimensions of behavioural assessment

Answer 7

1. Frequency
2. Duration
3. Latency
4. Intensity
5. Product recording
6. Quality

Question 8

what is an operational definition

Answer 8

Precise, objective definition of a term by specifying the operations the research or observer made to measure it “how”
e.g. fitness tracker/step counter

Question 9

Describe direct and indirect assessment

Answer 9

Direct= antecedents, target beh and consequences observed and recorded as they occur

Indirect = second or third hand, remembered information

Question 10

Examples of how direct and indirect assessment can be done

Answer 10

Direct = by onself, professional watches (in same room, two way mirror)

Indirect = questionnaires, role-playing, information from consulting professionals (social worker), interviews with clients

Question 11

Which settings does behavioural assessment occur in

Answer 11

Natural setting
Analogue setting

Question 12

Describe natural and analogue settings

Answer 12

Natural = beh observed in target person’s typical environment
Analogue = beh observed in a simulated location

Question 13

Behaviour assessment can be structured or unstructured observations, meaning?

Answer 13

Unstructured = observations made without giving instructions or altering events/activities (typical daily life)
Structured = observations made while instructions are given, events are planned to occur

Question 14

Problem with observation in a natural setting

Answer 14

May prevent accurate measurement (noisy, crowded)

Question 15

What is reactivity?

Answer 15

When recording or measurement of a behaviour affects the occurrence of the behaviour

Question 16

Three ways that behaviours can be observed/recorded during the observation period

Answer 16

• continuous recording: record every instance of client’s behaviour in the entire observation period
• interval recording: record target behaviour within successive time intervals of equal duration
• time sample recording: record behaviour during brief intervals separated from each other in time

Question 17

When is continuous recording suitable? Interval?

Answer 17

Continuous = each response has similar duration and beh occurs at low rates

Interval = responses with variable durations or high rates

Question 18

Two types of interval recording

Answer 18

1. partial interval recording = record behaviour a max of once per interval, regardless of how many times it occurred
2. whole-interval = record beh only if it persists during the entire interval

Question 19

what is the interobserver agreement statistic

Answer 19

Calculated to determine consistency in recording of target beh

Question 20

Six rights of clients **

Answer 20

1. a therapeutic environment
2. services whose overriding goal is personal welfare
3. treatment by a competent behaviour analyst
4. programs that teach functional skills
5. behavioural assessment and ongoing evaluation
6. the most effective treatment procedures available

Question 21

What is program evaluation? Why do it

Answer 21

Used to determine efficiency of the program
- determine dimensions of evaluation (generalization/maintenance)
- amount and importance of the change
- cost-benefit ratio

Question 22

What are the dimensions of program evaluation

Answer 22

Generalization
Maintenance

Question 23

Considerations when determining amount/importance of a behavioural change

Answer 23

• clinical significance (individual benefits significantly?)
• social validity (beneficial impact on daily function)
• social comparison (compare to “normal”)
• expert evaluation

Question 24

Potential problems when behaviour modification is applied

Answer 24

1. side effects (result secondary to active treatment)
2. trade-offs (forgoing one desire to gain another)
3. revenge effect aka perverse incentive (unintended consequences of the treatment)

Question 24

Examples of the revenge effect

Answer 24

Activity-based anorexia (exercise more = eat less)
“Health halo” effect (ordering from healthier fast food = more calories)

Question 25

What is frequency-within-interval recording

Answer 25

record frequency within consecutive intervals of time in observation period

Question 26

What is the latency dimension

Answer 26

Time between antecedent stimulus or event and the onset of behaviour

Question 27

What is the intensity dimension

Answer 27

Magnitude
Assesses strength of behaviour, with rating scale

Question 28

What is momentary time sample recording

Answer 28

Behaviour recorded only if it occurs at the exact instant the interval ends