Chapter 7: Analyzing Behavior Change: Basic Assumptions And Strategies

Question 1

Dependent variable

Answer 1

The variable in an experiment measured to determine if it changes as a result of manipulations of the other variable

Question 2

Experimental control

Answer 2

A predictable change in behavior can be reliably produced by the systematic manipulation of some aspect of the person’s environment; also, the extent to which each experimenter maintains precise control of the independent variable

Question 3

Experimental design

Answer 3

The particular type and sequence of conditions in a study so that meaningful comparisons of the effects of the presence and absence of the independent variable can be made

Question 4

Experimental question

Answer 4

A brief but specific statement of what the researcher wants to learn from conducting the experiment

Question 5

External validity

Answer 5

The degree to which a study’s findings have generality to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors

Question 6

Extraneous variable

Answer 6

Any aspect of the experimental setting that must be held constant to prevent unplanned environmental variation

Question 7

Independent variable

Answer 7

The variable that is systematically manipulated by the researcher in an experiment

Question 8

Internal validity

Answer 8

The extent to which an experiment shows convincingly that changes in behavior are a function of the independent variable and not the result of uncontrolled or unknown variables

Question 9

Parametric analysis

Answer 9

An experiment designed to discover the differential effects of a range of values of the independent variable

Question 10

Single-subject designs

Answer 10

Experimental designs that use a form of experimental reasoning called baseline logic to demonstrate the effects of the independent variable on the behavior of individual subjects

Question 11

A-B design

Answer 11

An experimental design consisting of a pre-treatment baseline condition followed by a treatment condition

Question 12

Affirmation of the consequent

Answer 12

A three-step for, of reasoning that begins with a true antecedent-consequent statement and proceeds as follows: 1. If A is true, then B is true 2. B is found to be true 3. Therefore, A is true

Question 13

Ascending baseline

Answer 13

Baseline data that show an increasing trend in behavior

Question 14

Baseline

Answer 14

A condition of an experiment in which the independent variable is not present; the basis for determining the effects of the independent variable

Question 15

Baseline logic

Answer 15

The reasoning inherent in single-subject experimental designs, entailing prediction, verification, and replication and an overall experimental approach of steady star strategy

Question 16

Descending baseline

Answer 16

Baseline data that show a decreasing trend in the response measure over time

Question 17

Practice effects

Answer 17

The improvements in performance resulting from repeated opportunities to emit the behavior so that baseline measurements can be obtained

Question 18

Prediction

Answer 18

A statement of the anticipated outcome of a presently unknown or future measurement

Question 19

Replication

Answer 19

Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of effects and increase internal validity

Question 20

Stable baseline

Answer 20

Baseline data that show no evidence of an upward or downward trend, and all of the measures fall within a small range of values

Question 21

Steady state responding

Answer 21

A pattern of responding that exhibits relatively little variation in its measured dimensional qualities over a period of time

Question 22

Steady state strategy

Answer 22

Repeatedly exposing a subject to a given condition while trying to eliminate or control, any extraneous influences on the behavior and obtaining a stable pattern of responding before introducing the next condition

Question 23

Variable baseline

Answer 23

Baseline data that do not consistently fall within a narrow range of values and do not suggest any clear trend

Question 24

Verification

Answer 24

Demonstrating that the prior level of baseline responding would have remained unchanged had the independent variable not been introduced

Question 25

Confounding variable

Answer 25

An uncontrolled variable known or suspected to exert an influence on the dependent variable