Unit 4 Flashcards
Visual data analysis
A systematic form of data examination, characterized by visual inspection of graphical displays of those data
Types of data display
- Data may be embedded in text
- Data may be presented in summary form, usually as a structured data table (a numerical representation of data)
- Data may be presented in graphical form (a visual representation of data)
Graph
A relatively simple visual format for displaying data
Graphic displays used in ABA
Equal interval line graph
Cumulative records
Bar graph
Semi-logarithmic graphs
Equal interval line graph
Based on a Cartesian* plane, a two-dimensional area formed by the intersection of two perpendicular lines (one vertical, one horizontal)
Simple Line Graph
Any point within the plane of the chart represents a specific relationship between the two variables (dimensions) measured along each of the axis lines
Common Uses of Line Graphs
Most commonly used format for charting ABA data
Used to evaluate treatment effectiveness
Used in functional analyses
Parts of an Equal Interval Line Graph
The horizontal x-axis The vertical y-axis Data points The data path Condition and phase change lines Condition and phase change labels Figure legend
Horizontal Axis
X-axis
The abscissa
Represents the passage of time
Vertical Axis
Y-axis
The ordinate
Represents the range of values of the dependent variable
X-Axis Units
Can be marked according to the needs of the behavior analyst, to promote the most useful analysis
Can be marked as any specified recorded observation periods, over a period of time
Y-Axis Units
Equal movements up the Y-axis represent equal increases in the behavior
The behavior should be expressed in whole time units
Y-Axis Range
Runs from zero up to some number which is chosen by the creator of the graph
Data Points
An individually measured value of the target behavior (the DV) at a given point in time
Data Path
A series of straight lines connecting successive data points within a phase or condition
It represents the relationship between the IV and DV
Phase Changes
Major changes occur in the dependent variable A major (usually permanent) change in the environment
Phase Change Lines
Document phase changes placed at a point along the x-axis indicating the point in the time when the phase change occurred
For a clear visual separation between the data charted before the phase change, and the data collected after phase change
Condition Change Lines
Minor changes occur in the independent variable A minor (usually temporary) change in the environment
X-Axis Labels
States what time periods are represented by each successive data point
Y-Axis Labels
States what response measure was used to measure the dependent variable- the target behavior
Phase Labels
Brief labels, placed at the top of the chart, and identify each separate major phase of treatment
Condition Labels
Mark changes occurring within a phase
Figure Legend
A concise statement that provides you with:
Sufficient information to identify the dependent variables and i the independent variables, and
Possibly other salient information necessary to visually interpret the data
Visual Analysis of a Graph
Level
Variability
Trend
The number of data points
Level
The mean (average) value of a set of data points, usually across an entire condition or phase
Trend
The overall direction taken by the data path through a set of data points
Variability
The extent to which measures of behavior under the same environmental conditions diverge from one another
Median Level
Outlying data points skew the level line in a way that makes it non-representative of the data set as a whole
Trend Lines
The direction and degree of trend in a series of graphically displayed data points can be visually represented with a straight line drawn through the data
Best Fit Line
Bisect the data, with close to an equal number of data points above the line as below the line
Split Middle Line of Progress
A mathematical way to calculate trend
Cumulative Record
Developed by Skinner as the primary means of data collection and analysis in EAB laboratory research
Cumulative Recorder
It is primarily used in EAB
Each response moves the ink stylus one unit (click) along its track
When it reaches the end of the track, it resets to zero and begins moving again, one click at a time
Paper moves under the stylus at a steady rate
Bar Graph (Histogram)
The vertical axis represents the value of a dependent variable
The horizontal axis represents a phase, condition, or classification variable
