Chapter 4: Measuring Behavior

Question 1

an outcome or result that appears to exist because of the way it is measured but in fact does not correspond to what actually occurred.

Answer 1

Artifact

Question 2

the change (acceleration or deceleration) in rate of responding over time; based on count per unit of time (rate); expressed as a factor by which responding is accelerating or decelerating (multiplying or dividing); displayed with a trend line on a standard Celeration chart. Celeration is a generic term without specific reference to accelerating or decelerating rates of response.

Answer 2

celeration

Question 3

a unit of time (e.g. per week, per month) in which celeration is plotted in a standard Celeration Chart

Answer 3

Celeration time period

Question 4

the celeration trend line is measured as a factor by which rate multiples or divides access the celeration time periods (e.g. rate per week, rate per month, rate per year, rate per decade)

Answer 4

Celeration trend line

Question 5

a simple tally of the number of occurrences of a behavior. The observation period, or counting time, should always be noted when reporting count measures

Answer 5

Count

Question 6

any operant whose response rate is controlled by a given opportunity to emit the response. Each discrete response occurs when an opportunity to respond exists. discrete trail, restricted operant and controlled operant are synonymous technical terms

Answer 6

Discrete trial

Question 7

a measure of the total extent of time in which a behavior occurs

Answer 7

Duration

Question 8

measurement procedure for obtaining a tally or count of the number of times a behavior occurs.

Answer 8

Event Recording

Question 9

any operant behavior that results in minimal displacement of the participant in time and space. A free operant can be emitted at nearly any time, it is discrete, it requires minimal time for completion and it can produce a wide range of response rates. Examples in aba include a. The number of words read allowed during a 1minute couldn’t period b the themuver of hand slap’s per 6 seconds and c the number of letter strokes written in 3 minutes (contrast with discrete trial)

Answer 9

Free Operant

Question 10

a ratio of count per observation time, often expressed as count per stand unit of time (per minute , per hour per day and calculated by doing the number of responses rescued by the number of standard units of time in which observations were conducting uned interchangeable y with rate

Answer 10

Frequency

Question 11

• a measure of temporal locus; defined as the elapsed time between two successive responses.

Answer 11

Inter response time (IRT)

Question 12

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. Responses meeting those criteria are measured and reported by one or more fundamental or derivative measures such as frequency, duration or latency. Sometimes called amplitude

Answer 12

Magnitude

Question 13

a method of measuring behavior after it has occurred by recording the effects that the behavior produced on the environment.

Answer 13

Measurement by permanent product

Question 14

a measurement method in which the presence or absence of behaviors are recorded precisely specified time intervals (contrast with interval recording)

Answer 14

Momentary Time Sample

Question 15

a time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically from 5 to 10 seconds). The observer records whether the target behavior recording is not concerned with how many times behavior occurred during the interval or how long the behavior was present just that it occurred at some point during the interval; TENDS TO OVERESTIMATE the proportion of the observation period that the behavior actually occurred .

Answer 15

Partial Interval Recording

Question 16

a ratio (i.e. proportion) formed by combining the same dimensional quantities such as count (number / number) or time (duration /duration; latency/ latency); expressed as a number of responses of certain type per total number of responses (or opportunities or interval in which such a response could have occurred) a percentage presents a proportional quantity per 100

Answer 16

Percentage

Question 17

a variation of momentary time sampling in which the observer records whether earache person in a group is engaged in the target behavior at specific points in time; provides a measure of “group behavior”

Answer 17

Planned Activity Check (PLACHECK)

Question 18

a ratio of count per observation; often expressed as count per standard unity of time (eg per minute per hour per day and calculated by dividing the number of responses recorded by the number of standard units of time in which observations were conducted used interchangeable with frequency the ratio is formed by combing the different dimensional quantities of count and time ie count time ratios formed from different dimensional quantities retain their dimensional quantities rate and frequency in bx measurement are synonymous terms (contrast with percentage)

Answer 18

Rate

Question 19

Refers to the fact that a behavior can occur repeatedly through time (i.e. behavior can be counted) one of three dimensional quantities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived

Answer 19

Repeatibilty

Question 20

a measure of temporal locus the elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus (e.g. task directions, cue) to the initiation of a response

Answer 20

Response Latency

Question 21

refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs during some amount of time; one of the three dimensional qualities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived (see repeatability and temporal locus)

Answer 21

Temporal Extent

Question 22

refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs at a certain point in time with respect to other events (i.e. when in time behavior occurs van be measured); often measured in terms of response latency and inter response time (IRT) one of the three dimensional qualities of behavior from which all behavioral measurements are derived

Answer 22

Temporal Locus

Question 23

a measurement of the presence or absence of behavior within specific time intervals. It is most useful with continuous and high rate behaviors

Answer 23

Time Sampling

Question 24

the physical form or shape of a behavior

Answer 24

Topography

Question 25

a special form of event recording; a measure of the number of responses or practice opportunities needed for a person to achieve a pre established level of accuracy or proficiency

Answer 25

Trials-to-criterion

Question 26

a time sampling method for measuring behavior in which the observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals at the end of each interval the observer records whether the target behavior occurred throughout the entire interval TENDS TO UNDERESTIMATE the proportion of the observation period that many behaviors actually occurred.

Answer 26

Whole Interval Recording