Test One Flashcards
(44 cards)
Behavior
an individual living organisms activity, public or private, which may be influenced by external or internal stimulation
Response
a single instance of behavior (ex: a thought)
Public behavior
everyone can observe it is happening
Private Behavior
you are the only one who can observe it
Two goals of Behavior Analysis
- to accurately predict behavior
- to discover functional variables that may be used to positively influence behavior
Stimulus Events
things you hear, smell, taste, or feel
Functional Variable
A variable that, if/when changed, reliably and systematically influences behavior
The Assumptions of Behavior Science
- Behavior is determined (has one/multiple causes)
- Scientific Method is a valid way to reveal the determinants of behavior
Quantitative
behavior is specific enough that occurence can be counted
Systematic
design the intervention to be implemented exactly as it is supposed to be (effectiveness)
Empirical
evidence must be observable
Falsifiable Predictions
when predictions are falsified, theory is abandoned
experimentation
most powerful scientific method extensively used in behavior science. At the end, we are confident if nothing changes -> behavior wont change
Independent variable
publicly, observable change, controlled by the experimenter, which is anticipated to influence behavior in a specific way
Determinants of Behavior
nature vs nurture
Behavioral epigenetics
examine how nurture shapes nature
Dependent Variable
objectively measured target behavior
Three components of Independent Variable
- dependent variable is behavior
- falsifiable hypothesis
- manipulation of the independent variable
Self-Report
asks the individual to recall if they have engaged in the behavior; may not be truthful
Direct observation
behavior is recorded as it occurs, or a lasting product of the behavior occurs
Behavioral definitions
precise specification of the topography of the target behavior, allowing observers to reliably identify instances and non-instances
Social Validity
the consumer of the intervention or an expert in the field indicates that the behavioral definition accurately reflects the behavior of interest
Inter observer Agreement
the extent to which two independent observers data are the same after having directly observed the same behavior at the same time (not accuracy)
Frequency
response count divided by time of opportunity to respond