Chap 4 Measuring behavior Flashcards
Measurement
The process of applying quantitative labels to observed properties of events using a standard set of rules.
Dimensional quantities
Repeatability
Temporal extent
Temporal locus
Repeatability
Instances of a response class can occur repeatedly through time Includes count and rate/frequency
Temporal extent
Every instance of a behavior occurs during some amount of time
Includes duration
Temporal locus
Every instance of behavior occurs at a certain point in time with respect to other events
Includes response latency and interresposne time
Rate/frequency
the number of responses per unit of time and is more meaningful than count alone
Use to measure free operants
Count
Simple tally of the number of occurrences of a behavior
Free operant
Behaviors that have discrete beginning and ending points in time; require minimal displacement in time and space and can be emitted nearly any time, do not require much time for completion, can be emitted over a wide range of response rates
Celeration
Measure of how rates of response change over time
Response latency
Measure of the elapsed time between the onset of a stimulus and the initiation of a subsequent response
Interresponse time (IRT)
measures when a specific instance of a behavior occurs with respect to a previous response.
Trials to criterion
measure of the number of response opportunities needed to achieve a predetermined level of performance.
Topography
refers to the physical form or shape of a behavior.
Magnitude
intensity or force with which a response is emitted
Event recording
detects and records the number of times a behavior is observed.
