Unit 2 Flashcards
Science
A systematic approach to understanding of natural phenomena
Natural Science - Subject matter
Empirically observable (natural) phenomena
Natural Sciences - Empirical Process
Direct observation and measurement
Natural Sciences - Experimental action
- Manipulate IVs
- Control extraneous factors
- Measure effect on DV
-Often repeated measurement
IV in Behavior Analysis
Environment
DV in behavior analysis
Behavior
Goals of the Natural Science of Behavior Analysis
Description, prediction, control
Philosophical Assumptions
Selectionism, determinism, empiricism, parsimony, pragmatism
Philosophical Assumptions of ABA
-Attitude and assumptions
-Our expectations of our science
-Our values that guide our science
-The strategies put forth to explain a phenomenon in measurable and objective terms
Selectionism
-Variation and selection of traits
-The philosophical assumption that attributes genetic and behavioral variation to selection
Determinism
-The universe is lawful, as is behavior
-Behavior occurs as a result of environmental events in a systematic way
Empiricism
Objective observation with thorough description and quantification of the behavior
The two elements of empiricism
Experimentation and Replication
Empiricism involves ______
Empiricism involves clear and concise definitions of the phenomena of interest
Empiricism allows for ___ and ___
Allows for the observation of the phenomena and measurement of the phenomena
Experimentation in Behavior Analysis
-Systematic manipulation of environmental events
-Observation and measurement of behavior
-Control extraneous, environmental factors
Replication in Behavior Analysis
-An experiment
-A part of an experiment
-Altering some piece of an experiment
Characteristics of Dimensional Measures
Standard, Absolute, Universal
Standard
Widely used by the community
Absolute
The measure never changes
Universal
Can be applied to every instance where that type of measure is important
Measurement allows practitioners to:
- Determine if behavior change is needed
- Track behavior change
- Maximize services
- Evaluate interventions
Fundamental Characteristics or quality of behavior allows ___ and exists ____
Allows for behavior to be measured and exists independent of its measurement
Fundamental properties of behavior
A single response;
- Can reoccur (repeatability)
- Occurs at a point in time (temporal locus)
- Occupies an amount of time (temporal extent)
Repeatability
A single response that occurs once can reoccur (repeat)
Temporal locus
A single response occurs at a point (location) in time in relation to other events
Temporal extent
A single response occupies time (extends through time)
Dimensional Quantity of Behavior
A measurement aspect of a fundamental property of behavior
Dimensional quantities measure _____
Fundamental properties
Dimensional Quantities in Behavior Analysis
-Count
-Rate
-Celeration
-Inter-response time
-Latency
- Duration
Fundamental Properties and Dimensional Quantities: Repeatability
Count
Fundamental Properties and Dimensional Quantities: Repeatability and Temporal Locus
Rate, Celeration, IRT
Fundamental Properties and Dimensional Quantities: Temporal Locus
Latency
Fundamental Properties and Dimensional Quantities: Temporal Extent
Duration
Count (Countability)
The number of times a response occurs
Measure of the fundamental property of repeatability
Count does not include ____
Count does not include any measure of time
Issues with Count
-Count is missing time (How bad is it?)
-Numbers are not comparable from one observation to the next
Rate
Ratio of responses over time
Rate is a measure of the properties of _____
Repeatability and temporal locus
Rate: ______ in behavior analysis
Fundamental datum in behavior analysis (Skinner, 1938)
Rate is often expressed as
Count per minute
What makes count meaningful?
Inclusion of time
When the term “frequency” is used, explain how to know whether the data presented are measures of count or rate
Depends on if it references time or not.
Celeration
Change in rate of responses over time
(Count/time)/time
Celeration is a measure of _
The properties of repeatability of temporal locus
Celeration is used
-Skinner’s work and cumulative records
-Precision teaching
Inter-Response Time (IRT)
The time between two successive responses
IRT is a measure of
The properties of repeatability and temporal locus
The inverse relationship between rate and IRT
-As the rate increases (accelerates), the IRTs decrease (get shorter)
-As the rate decreases (decelerates), the IRTs increase (get longer)
Latency
The amount of time between an antecedent stimulus and a response
Latency is a measure of
The property of temporal locus
Duration
Amount of time from the start of response until the end of the response
Duration is a measure of
The property of temporal extent
Data
Information collected as a result of measurement
Importance of Data
-Enable clinical decision making
-Allow for ongoing assessment and evaluation
Data refers to
Multiple pieces of information or observations (plural form)
Datum refers to
A single piece of information or observation (singular form)
Components of Behavioral Measurement
-Identify responses meeting target definition
-Determine the amount of behavior
-Record the amount using the appropriate unit of measure
Two observation types
Complete and incomplete
Complete observation
Observation method that allows for all occurrences of the target behavior to be observed and measured
When measuring a phenomenon of interest; will the data collected be:
Accurate, representative (complete observation
Incomplete observation
Schedule of observation that may fail to capture some instances of the target response due to observing only a sample of possible opportunities
Direct Measurement
Measurement in which the behavior being measured is the actual behavior of interest
Indirect Measurement
Measurement in which what is being measured is not the actual behavior of interest
Examples of indirect measures
Questionnaires, interviews, rating scales
Two recording methods
Continuous and Discontinuous
Continuous recording methods
Methods designed to capture all instances of the target behavior during an observation period
Continuous methods can ___, but ___
Continuous methods can capture every event that occurs during the observation periods, BUT are not guaranteed to
Methods for Continuous Recording
- Event (incorporates count, rate, and Celeration)
-IRT recording
-Latency recording
-Duration recording
Event Recording
Recording procedure that involves counting each instance of the behavior of interest and converting that count to a measure
Event Recording Steps
1 - Record time observation begins
2 - Count the responses
3 - Record the time observation ends
4 - Convert to rate by dividing count/unit of time
5 - Report as count per unit of time (rate)
Event Recording Advantages
Sensitive measure of repeatability
When to use event recording
Free operants
Response has a clear beginning and end
Event Recording Considerations - Not appropriate for:
- High rates of behavior
- Non-discrete behavior
- Behavior that occurs for long periods of time
- Discrete trials
- Behavior where accuracy is important
IRT Recording
Recording procedure that involves measuring the amount of time between two successive instances of the behavior of instance
IRT Recording Steps
1 - Identify the response cycle
2 - Start timing at the end of the response cycle
3 - Stop timing at the beginning of the next response cycle
4 - Record time
5 - Optional: Calculate average IRT (IRT total/# of IRTs
When to use IRT recording
-When the time BETWEEN responses is of concern
-When implementing certain decelerative procedures (e.g., DRL)
IRT Recording Considerations
-IRT and rate are inversely related
-Will not provide information concerning accuracy of the responses
Steps for Estimating IRT
-Mean IRT may be estimated given the rate, provided that the variability is not too great or that there are no outliers
-Formula: Recording interval/count
-Report as amount of time (minutes, seconds, hours)
When to Estimate IRT - Appropriate when:
-Responses are distributed across the observation period
-No significant outliers
-You know the rate
Estimating IRT is not appropriate when:
-Responses are grouped at one point of the observation (e.g., beginning or end)
-Significant outliers exist
Latency Recording
Recording procedure that involves measuring the amount of time between an antecedent stimulus and the behavior of interest
Latency recording steps
1 - Start the timer when the relevant antecedent occurs
2 - Stop the timer when the response occurs
3 - Record time
When to use latency recording
When the time between the opportunity to respond and the actual response is the primary concern
Latency Recording Considerations
- Determine when to start and stop the timer
1 Will not provide information concerning the accuracy of the response
Latency Recording Considerations: When to start/stop the timer
Start: At the onset or offset of the antecedent stimulus
Stop: At beginning or end of the response cycle (if the latter you may be confounding latency and duration)
Duration Recording
Recording procedure that involves measuring the amount of time from the beginning to end of the behavior of interest
Types of Duration Measures
-Total Duration (AKA duration per session)
-Duration per occurrence
Duration per occurrence steps
1 - Record the time at the start of the observation
2 - Start timer when individual begins engaging in the response
3 - Stop the timer at response end
4 - Record duration and reset timer
5 - Repeat steps 2,3,4 until the end of the observation
6 - Record time at end of the observation
Total duration steps
1 - Record the time at the start of the observation
2 - Start timer when individual begins engaging in the response
3 - Stop the timer at the response end
4 - Record duration and reset timer
5 - Repeat steps 2,3,4 until the end of the observation
6 - Record time at end of the observation
7 - Add all duration from the session together for a total time
8 - Record total duration
When to use duration recording
- Behavior that occurs for long periods of time (tantrums, exercise, tasks)
- When length of response is primary concern
Duration recording considerations
Sometimes difficult to define a clear start and stop
Factors to consider when selecting a response measure
W - Where to collect data?
W - When, how often, how long?
W - Who will collect the data?
H - How the data be used
E - Estimated rate of the behavior
R - Responses or episodes?
D - Dimensional quantity of interest
R - Resources available
Multiple measures - Questions/Considerations
-Is the rate enough?
-Is the total duration enough?
-Can we benefit from multiple measures on the same graphs?
