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Section A & H Terms
BCBA Section A-Measurement and Section H-Measurement
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Repeatability | Refers to the fact that a behavior can occur repeatedly through time. |
Temporal Extent | Refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs during some amount of time. |
Temporal Locus | Refers to the fact that every instance of behavior occurs at a certain point in time with respect to the other events. |
Measurement | The process of assigning numbers and units to particular features of objects or events. |
Free Operant Procedure | The individual is "free" to respond repeatedly in the sense that there are no constraints on successive responses. |
Discrete Trial Procedure | A method of instrumental conditioning in which the participant can perform the instrumental response only during specified periods, usually determined either by placement of the participant in an experimental chamber, or by presentation of a stimulus. |
Magnitude | The force or intensity with which a response is emitted. |
Topography | The physical form or shape of behavior. |
Continuous Measurement | Measurement conducted in a matter such that ALL instances of the response class(es) of interest are detected during the observation. |
Discontinuous Measurement | Any form of measurement in which SOME instances of the response class(es) of interest may not be detected. |
Frequency | Simple tally of the number of occurrences of behavior. |
Rate | Number of responses per unit of time. |
Celeration | Measure of the change in rate of responding per unit of time. |
Duration | The amount of time the behavior occurs |
Latency | Measure of the elapsed time between the onset of a stimulus and the initiation of a subsequent response. |
Interresponse Time (IRT) | Amount of time that elapses between two consecutive instances of a response class. |
Percent of occurence | Occurrence/total opportunities x100 |
Trials to criterion | Measure of the number of response opportunities needed to achieve a predetermined level of performance. A set of criteria which determines the requirement to meet mastery. |
Permanent Product | Measure behavior AFTER it has occurred by measuring the effects that the behavior produced on the environment. |
Mean Count per interval | Calculated by adding the amount of agreement in each interval and dividing that number by the total number of intervals. |
Exact Count per interval | The percentage of total intervals in which two observers recorded the same count; take the intervals with 100% agreement and divide that by the total number of intervals. |
Mean Duration | Calculated by adding the individual IOA percentages for each occurrence and dividing them by the total number of responses. |
Time Sampling | Calculated by taking the number of trials in agreement and dividing that by the total number of trials. |
Validity | The extent to which data obtained from measurement are directly relevant to the target behavior of interest and to the reasons for measuring it. |
Accuracy | The extent to which observed values, the data produced while measuring the event, match the true values of the event as it exists in nature. |
Reliability | Repeated measurement of the same event yields the same result. |
Whole Interval Recording | Records whether the target behavior occurred throughout the ENTIRE Interval. |
Partial Interval Recording | Records where the target behavior occurred at ANY TIME throughout the interval. |
Momentary Time Sampling | Records whether the target behavior occurred at the END of each interval. |
Planned Activity Check (Placheck) | Uses head counts to measure "group behavior" |
Preference Assessments | Asking about stimulus preferences: Asking the target person, asking significant others or offering a pre-task choice. |
Reinforcer Assessement | A variety of direct. data-based methods used to present one or more stimuli contingent on a target response and then measuring the future effects on. |
Concurrent Schedule of Reinforcement | When two or more contingencies of reinforcement are used simultaneously for two or more behaviors. |
Multiple Schedule of Reinforcement | Two or more component schedules of reinforcement for a single response with only one component schedule in effect at any given time. |
Progressive Ratio Schedule of Reinforcement | The response requirements for reinforcement are increased systematically over time independent of the participants behavior. |
Level | The value of the y-axis scale around which a set of behavioral measures converge. |
Bar Graphs | This graph is used to compare discrete sets of unrelated data or to summarize performance within a condition or group of individuals. |
Line Graphs | This graph shows changes in level, trend, and variability of the data collected. |
Discrete Categorization (Coding) | Classifying responses into discrete categories. |
Independent Variable | This is the variable being manipulated. |
Dependent Variable | This is the behavior that varies depended on the manipulation of the IV. |
Ordinate | Y-axis; Where the target behavior or dependent variable is. |
Abscissa | X-axis; Represents the passage of time. |
Data Path | Relationship between the dependent variable and independent variable. |
Phase Change | MAJOR Change in the IV represented by a solid vertical line. Examples would be: baseline, beginning ABA services, new medications, parents divorced, etc. |
Condition Change | MINOR Change in a parameter of the IV represented by a dashed vertical line. Examples would be: new medication dosage, returned from vacation, sick with cold, etc. |
Data Points | Relationship between dependent variable and measurement period of time. |
Figure Legend | Concise statement that provides sufficient info to interpret the graph. |
Artifact | Something that appears to exist because of the way it is examined or measured. In other ways, when data gives a misleading picture of the behavior because of the way it is measured. |
Naive Observer | Trained observer who is unaware of the study's purpose and/or the experimental conditions in effect during a given phase or observation period. |
Calibration | Compensating for measurement error that is consistent in direction and value. |
Reactivity | Measurement error that results from an observer's awareness that others are evaluating the data he/she reports. |
Observer Drift | When an observer unknowingly alters the way they apply a measurement system. |