vocabulary

Question 0

Behaviorism

Answer 0

The philosophy of a science of behavior; there are various forms of behaviorism (methodological behaviorism and radical behaviorism)

Question 1

Applied behavior analysis (ABA)

Answer 1

The science in which tactics derived from the principles of behavior are applied systemically to improve socially significant behavior and experimentation is used to identify the variables responsible for behavior change.

Question 2

Determinism

Answer 2

Scientists presume that the universe, or at least that part of it they intend to probe with the methods of science, is a lawful and orderly place in which all phenomena occur as the result of other events.

Question 3

Empiricism

Answer 3

The practice of objective observation of the phenomena of interest

Question 4

Experiment

Answer 4

Carefully conducted comparison of some measure of phenomena of interest (the dependent variable) under two or more different conditions in which only one factor at a time is different (independent variable) from one condition to another.

Question 5

Functional relation

Answer 5

Exists when a well-controlled experiment reveals that a specific change in one event (the dependent variable) can reliably be produced by specific manipulations of another even (the independent variable), and that change in the dependent variable is unlikely to be caused by extraneous factors (confounding variables).

Question 6

Independent variable

Answer 6

Causes change in the dependent variable. Categories, such as age, sex, and religion are independent variables.

Question 7

Dependent variable

Answer 7

What we measure.

Question 8

Applied behavior analysts do what?

Answer 8

Use measurement to detect and compare the effects of various environmental arrangements on acquisition, maintenance, and generalization of socially significant behaviors.

Question 9

Measurement

Answer 9

The process of assigning numbers and units to a particular feature or events. The number an the unit together constitute the measure of the object or event.

Question 10

Dimensional quality

Answer 10

Particular feature of an object or event that is measured.

Question 11

Measurement does what for research?

Answer 11

Gives researchers, practitioners, and consumers a common means for describing and comparing bx with a set of labels that convey a common meaning.

Question 12

Empiricism

Answer 12

The objective observation of a bx of interest.

Question 13

Measurement provides

Answer 13

The basis for learning and talking about bx in scientifically meaningful ways.

Question 14

Summaries evaluation

Answer 14

Overall effects of the behavior change programs

Question 15

Formative assessment

Answer 15

Frequent measures of bx during treatment enable dynamic,data-based decision making concerning the continuation, modification, or termination of treatment.

Question 16

A practitioner who does not obtain and attend to frequent measures of the bx targeted for intervention is vulnerable to committing what mistakes?

Answer 16

1. Continuing an ineffective treatment when no real bx change has occurred.
2. Discontinuing an effective treatment because subjective judgement detects no improvement

Question 17

Measurement helps practitioners do what?

Answer 17

• optimize their effectiveness by maintaining current effective and efficient data
• verify the legitimacy of treatments labeled as “evidence based,” by using direct and frequent measurement to verify its effectiveness with pt
• identify and end treatments based on fads or ideology
• to be accountable to clients, consumers, employers, and society
• achieve ethical standards

Question 18

Dimensional qualities that can be measured include:

Answer 18

Repeatability or countability. The bx can be counted

Temporal extent. The duration of bx can be measured

Temporal locus. When the bx occurs can be measured

Question 19

Count

Answer 19

Simple tally of the # of occurrences of a bx

Cannot provide enough information to allow practitioners to make useful program decisions or analyses.

Question 20

Rate/frequency

Answer 20

The number of responses for a unit of time

Count and time (or observation period)

Question 21

Free operants

Answer 21

Bx that have discrete beginning and ending points, require minimal displacement of the organism in time and space, can be emitted at nearly any time, do not require much time for completion, and can be emitted over a wide range of response rates

Question 22

Rate of response is used as a preferred measure for what?

Answer 22

Free operants

Question 23

Do not use rate of measure to do what?

Answer 23

To measure bx that occur within discrete trials

To measure continuous bx that occur for extended periods of time

Question 24

Celeration

Answer 24

Measure of how rates of response change over time. Providing a direct measure of dynamic patters of bx change such as transitions from one steady rate of responding

Question 25

Celeration trend line

Answer 25

A factor by which rate of response is multiplying or accelerating or dividing or decelerating across the celeration time period (rate per week, month, etc.)

Question 26

Celeration time period

Answer 26

Is 1/20th of the horizontal axis of all standard celeration charts... For calendar days is per week... For successive calendar weeks chart is per month

Question 27

Duration

Answer 27

The amount of time a bx occurs

Question 28

Total duration

Answer 28

Measure of the cumulative amount if time in chich a person engages in the target bx

Question 29

Duration per occurrence

Answer 29

Measure of the duration of time that each instance of the target behavior occurs

Question 30

Count and duration measure what?

Answer 30

Different dimensional quantities of bx and theses difference provide the basis for selecting which dimension to measure

Question 31

Event recording measures

Answer 31

Repeatability

Question 32

Duration recording measures

Answer 32

Temporal extent

Question 33

Response latency

Answer 33

The measure of elapsed time between the inset if a stimulus and the invitation of a subsequent response Use when interested in how much time occurs between an opportunity to emit a bx ans when the bx is initiated.

Question 34

Interresponse time (IRT)

Answer 34

Amount of time that elapses between two consecutive instances of a response class. Measure of temporal locus

Question 35

Percentage

Answer 35

A ratio formed by combining the same dimensional quantities, such as count or time

Question 36

Trials-to-criterion

Answer 36

A measure of the number of response opportunities needed to achieve a predetermined level of performance

Question 37

Behavior can be defined by

Answer 37

It's form and intensity

Question 38

Occurrences of target bx

Answer 38

On the basis of topography or magnitude are then measured by one or more aspects of count, temporal extent, temporal locus

Question 39

Topography

Answer 39

Physical form or shape of a behavior and is both measurable and malleable dimension of behavior

Question 40

Magnitude

Answer 40

Refers to the force or intensity with which a response is emitted

Question 41

How scientists operationalize empiricism

Answer 41

Measurement

Question 42

In ABA involves assigning numbers and units to features of natural events

Answer 42

Measurement

Question 43

In ABA, we measure behavior to answer question about ________ relations between socially significant behavior and environmental variables.

Answer 43

Functional

Question 44

Validity

Answer 44

Did it measure what we want it to measure?

Question 45

Direct measure of the actual bx of interest will always possess more _______ than an indirect measure

Answer 45

Validity

Question 46

Valid measurement in ABA is

Answer 46

1. Measuring socially significant target bx 2. Measuring a dimension (rate or duration) of a target bx relevant to the question or concern about the bx 3. Ensuring that the data are representative of the bx occurrence under conditions and during times that are most relevant to the question or convern about the bx

Question 47

Accuracy

Answer 47

The extent to which observed values, the data produced by measuring an event , match the true state, or true values, of he event as it exists

Question 48

Whole-interval recording

Answer 48

The observation period is divided into a series of brief time intervals (typically from 5 to 10 seconds)

Question 49

Observer drift

Answer 49

Unintended changes in the way data are collected may produce measurement error.

Question 50

Naive observer

Answer 50

Trained observer who is unaware of the study's purpose and/or the experimental conditions in effect during a given phase or observation period.

Question 51

Measurement bias can be reduced by...

Answer 51

Using target behavior definitions and recording procedures that will give conservative picture of a bx, frank and repeated discussion with observers about the importance of collecting data, and frequent feedback to observers on the extent to which their data agree wit true values or data obtained by observers who are naive.

Question 52

Observer reactivity

Answer 52

Measurement error resulting from an observer's awareness that others are evaluating the data he reports

Question 53

Changing observer reactivity

Answer 53

Separating observers, not letting observer know bx is being recorded by another observer.

Question 54

4 purposes of conducting accurate assessments

Answer 54

1. Data good enough to serve as the basis for making experimental or treatment decisions 2. Accurate assessments allow for the discovery and correction of specific instances of measurement error 3. Reveal consistent patterns of measurement error 4. Assure consumers that the data are accurate

Question 55

Assessing the reliability of behavioral measurement

Answer 55

Requires either natural or contrived permanent product so the observer can remeasure the same events

Question 56

Inter observer agreement (IOA)

Answer 56

The degree to which two or more independent observers report the same observed values after measuring the same events.

Question 57

Assessing IOA is proactive because

Answer 57

Help researchers determine and describe the degree to which observers have met training criteria and detect possible drift in observers' use of measurement system Summation descriptors of the consistently of measurement across observers