What are the common attitudes and assumptions of science?
determinism, empiricism, experimentation, replication, parsimony, and philosophic
... [Show More] doubt
Explain the difference between EAB and ABA
EAB involves basic research, reporting only on basic behavior experiments whose primary goal is to discover and clarify the basic principles of behavior and determine functional relations between behavior and controlling variables.
ABA involves applied research and has the goal of creating a technology for improving socially significant behavior and to determine functional relations between socially significant behavior and controlling variables.
Describe the methodological features of EAB
rate of response is the most common dependent variable; repeated or continuous measurement is made of carefully defined response classes; within-subject experimental comparisons are used instead of group designs; visual analysis of graphed data is preferred over statistical inference; a description of functional relations is valued over formal theory testing.
5 functions/phases of behavioral assessment
a) screening, b) defining and quantifying problems or goals, c) pinpointing the target behavior(s), d) monitoring progress, e) following up
4 main methods for obtaining assessment information
interviews, checklists, tests, and direct observation
What is an ecological assessment?
gathering a large amount of information about the person and the environments in which that person lives and works; this type of assessment is neither necessary nor warranted for most ABA programs
What is reactivity?
the effects of an assessment procedure on the behavior being assessed, most likely during direct observation when the individual is aware they are being observed
What questions should be asked to determine the social significance and habilitative (adjustment, competence) value of a potential target behavior?
Will the behavior be reinforced in the person's daily life?
Is the behavior a necessary prerequisite for a useful skill?
Will the behavior increase the person's access to environments in which other important behaviors can be learned or used?
Will the behavior predispose others to interact with the person in a more appropriate and supportive manner?
Is the behavior a cusp or pivotal behavior?
Is the behavior age appropriate?
Does the behavior represent the actual problem or is it only indirectly related?
What are the two basic effects that a stimulus change has on behavior?
1. an immediate but temporary effect of increasing or decreasing the current frequency of the behavior (ex: a sudden downpour is likely to immediately increase the frequency of all behavior that has resulted in the person successfully escaping the rain in the past)
2. a delayed but relatively permanent effect in terms of frequency of that type of behavior in the future
(ex: if the individual decided not to take an umbrella the downpour will decrease the frequency of that behavior on cloudy days in the future)
Explain higher order respondent conditioning
the process when a neutral stimulus is paired with a conditioned stimulus producing a conditioned reflex
Describe respondent extinction
when a conditioned stimulus is presented repeatedly without the unconditioned stimulus until the conditioned stimulus no longer elicits the conditioned response
Define and describe the difference between ontogeny and phylogeny
The former is the history of development of an individual organism during its lifetime. The latter is the history of the natural evolution of a species.
Explain the multiple ways that consequences affect behavior (operant conditioning)
Consequences can affect only future behavior.
Consequences select response classes, not individual responses.
Immediate consequences are most effective.
Consequences select any behavior that precedes them.
Operant conditioning occurs automatically.
Name the three dimensional quantities of behavior.
repeatability (count), temporal extent (duration), and temporal locus (when behavior occurs)
Which type of interval recording overestimates behavior and which underestimates behavior.
Whole-interval recording usually underestimates behavior and partial interval recording overestimates behavior.
What behaviors are most appropriate for whole interval recording?
continuous behaviors (i.e. cooperative play) or behaviors that occur at high rates that are difficult to differentiate from one occurrence to another (i.e. rocking or humming)
Which behaviors would be best for partial interval recording?
lower frequency behaviors with more distinct beginning/ending (if the behavior occurs very frequency this method will misrepresent the occurrence of the behavior).
When is momentary time sampling an effective measurement method?
when measuring continuous activity behaviors (i.e. task engagement). NOT recommended for low frequency or short-duration behaviors
What is a PLACHECK?
a version of momentary time sampling in which the observer records whether each individual in a group is engaged in the target behavior.
When is a behavior suitable for measurement via permanent product?
1. Each occurrence of the target behavior must produce the same permanent product.
2. The permanent product can only be produced by the target behavior.
What are some threats to measurement validity?
Indirect measurement (i.e. using response to a questionnaire to determine the frequency of behavior)
Measuring the wrong dimension of the behavior
Measurement artifacts
What can produce measurement artifacts?
Discontinuous measurement
Poorly scheduled measurement periods (must be an equal opportunity for the occurrence and nonoccurrence of the behavior)
Insensitive/Limited measurement scales
What are some threats to measurement accuracy and reliability?
Poorly designed measurement system
Inadequate observer training (i.e. observer drift)
Unintended influences on observers (i.e. reactivity)
What is the most common version of IOA used?
Percentage of agreement
How do you calculate total count IOA?
Smaller count/Larger count x 100
How do you calculate mean count-per-interval IOA?
Interval 1 IOA + Interval 2 IOA + Interval N IOA/ n intervals x 100
How do you calculate exact counter-per-interval IOA?
Number of intervals of 100% IOA/ n intervals x 100
How do you calculate trial-by-trial IOA
Number of trials agreement/total number of trials x 100
How do you calculate interval-by-interval IOA?
Number of intervals agreed/ number of intervals agreed + number of intervals disagreed x 100
How do you calculate total duration IOA?
shorter duration/longer duration x 100 [Show Less]