Key Terms

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

ABAB/Withdrawal/Reversal Design

An experimental design consisting of an initial baseline phase (A) until steady state responding is obtained, an initial intervention phase in which the treatment variable (B) is implemented until the behavior has changed and steady state responding is obtained, a return to baseline conditions (A) by withdrawing the independent variable to see whether responding "reverses" to levels observed in the initial baseline phase, and a second intervention phase (B) to see whether initial treatment effects are replicated.

Accuracy

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

Alternating Treatments Design

An experimental design in which two or more conditions are presented in rapidly alternating succession independent of the level of responding.

Attrition

A threat to internal validity which refers to the loss of participants from a sample over time (e.g., unmotivated students leave, higher achievement scores attained for remaining students).

B

Baseline Logic

The experimental reasoning inherent in single-subject experimental designs (prediction, verification, and replication).

Behavior

Everything an organism does; an organism's interaction with the environment that is characterized by displacement in space through time; results in a measurable change in some aspect of the environment.

Believability

The extent to which the researcher convinces others that the data are trustworthy, representative, and warrant interpretation.

C

Changing Criterion Design

An experimental design in which an initial baseline phase is followed by a series of treatment phases consisting of successive and gradually changing criteria for reinforcement or punishment. Experimental control is evident when the level of responding changes to match each new criterion.

D

Dependent Variable

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

Determinism

The assumption that the universe is a lawful and orderly place; all phenomena occur as a result of other events.

Diffusion of treatment

A threat to internal validity which refers to when a comparison group learns about the program either directly or indirectly from program group participants.

Direct measure

When the behavior of interest is measured via firsthand observation; the behavior that is being measured is the same as the behavior that is the focus of the investigation.

Duration

The total extent of time in which a targeted behavior occurs.

E

Empiricism

Objective, systematic, and repeated measurement; detailed description and precise quantification of phenomena under observation.

Experimental Control

(1) The outcome of an experiment that convincingly demonstrates a functional relation between the IV and DV. (2) The extent to which a researcher maintains precise control of the IV by presenting, withdrawing, and/or varying its value while also eliminating or holding constant all confounding and extraneous variables.

Experimenter bias

When a researcher unconsciously affects results, data, or a participant in an experiment due to subjective influence.

F

Frequency count

Tally of responses of a targeted behavior.

Functional definition of behavior

Definition which defines behavior through the effects on environment.

H

History

A threat to internal validity which refers to any change on the dependent measures due to a historical event during the course of an experiment that is unrelated to the independent variable.

I

Independent Variable (IV)

The variable that is systematically managed or manipulated in order to study a change in the dependent variable. In behavior analysis this is often a behavioral procedure, package, intervention, or treatment program.

Indirect measure

When the behavior of interest is measured through a proxy or alternative measure; the behavior that is being measured is in some way different that the behavior that is the focus of the investigation.

Instrumentation

A threat to internal validity which refers to the changes in the measurement instrument, observers, or scorers which may produce changes in the outcomes.

Intensity/magnitude

The force with which a response is elicited/emitted.

Interobserver agreement

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

Inter-response time

Amount of time that elapses between two consecutive instances of a response class (e.g., time between bites of a sandwich).

Interval recording/time sampling

A measurement of the presence or absence of behavior within specific time intervals (i.e., MTS, PIR, WIR).

L

Latency

The elapsed time from the onset of a stimulus (e.g., direction) to the initiation of a response.

M

Maturation

A threat to internal validity which refers to any biological or psychological process within an individual that systematically varies with the passage of time, independent of specific external events.

Multiple Baseline Design

An experimental design that begins with the concurrent measurement of two or more behaviors in a baseline condition, followed by the application of the treatment variable to one of the behaviors while baseline conditions remain in effect for the other behavior(s). After maximum change has been noted in the first behavior, the treatment variable is applied in sequential fashion to each of the other behaviors in the design. Experimental control is demonstrated if each behavior shows similar changes, when and only when, the treatment variable is introduced. The dependent variables may be behaviors across one participant, across settings, or across subjects.

Multiple Probe Design

A variation of the multiple baseline design that features intermittent measures, or probes, during baseline. It is used to evaluate the effects of instruction on skill sequences in which it is unlikely that the subject can improve performance on later steps in the sequence before learning prior steps.

Multiple-treatment interference

Applying several treatments concurrently and therefore not being able to differentiate between which treatment could work individually or whether the entire treatment package is necessary.

N

Novelty Effects

A treatment may work because it is innovative and the subjects respond to the uniqueness, rather than the actual treatment.

P

Parsimony

The simplest theory; fewest assumptions; requires that all simple and logical explanations are ruled out before considering more complex explanations.

Percentage

A ratio formed by combining the same dimensional quantities (e.g., problems correct/total problems solved; time engaged/total time allotted) and multiplying by 100 to determine the level of targeted behavior.

Permanent product measure

Recording tangible items or environmental effects that result from a behavior.

Q

Quasi-Experimental

An empirical study used to estimate the causal impact of an intervention on its target population, but specifically lacks the element of random assignment to the treatment or control.

R

Rate

Number of responses for a given unit of time (e.g., 0.8 per minute).

Reactivity of assessment

The finding that the action of having a behavior queried, monitored, or focused on during a research study independently can affect the expression of that behavior regardless of other interventions or manipulations used in the study.

Reactivity of physical arrangements

The finding that the setting or physical arrangements during a research study independently can affect the expression of behavior regardless of other interventions or manipulations used in the study.

Reliability

The consistency of measurement, specifically, the extent to which repeated measurement of the same event yields the same values.

Replication

(1) Repeating conditions within an experiment to determine the reliability of effects and increase internal validity. (2) Repeating whole experiments to determine the generality of findings of previous experiments to other subjects, settings, and/or behaviors.

S

Selection bias

A threat to internal validity which refers to organizing participants using a non-random method; groups were not comparable before the start of the study.

Single Case Research (SCR)

Experimental research that is concerned with discovering principles and conditions that govern the behavior of single organisms and the impact of a given environmental variable; wide variety of designs that use baseline logic to demonstrate effects of the independent variable on the behavior of individual subjects.

Social validity

The goals, procedures, and results of an intervention are socially acceptable to the client, therapist, and community/society.

Special Treatment or reactions of controls

Administrators who feel the allocation of goods to the groups is not "fair" and may feel a need to compensate one group for their perceived disadvantage.

Statistical regression

A threat to internal validity which refers to the tendency for research participants who score either very high or very low on a measure to score closer to the mean when the measure is re-administered.

T

Testing

A threat to internal validity which refers to the effects of taking one test may improve the outcomes of a second test; becoming "test-wise."

Test sensitization

A treatment might only work if a pretest is given. Because they have taken a pretest, the subjects may be more sensitive to the treatment. Had they not taken a pretest, the treatment would not have worked.

Timing of measurement

It may be that the treatment effect does not occur until several weeks after the end of the treatment. In this situation, a posttest at the end of the treatment would show no impact, but a posttest a month later might show an impact, or vice versa.

Topographical definition of behavior

Definition which operationally defines a behavior through form and physical features; allows for objective measurement of behavior.

Topography

Refers to the physical form or shape of a behavior.

Trials to criterion

Number of response opportunities required to achieve a predetermined level of performance; can use frequency, rate, duration, or latency.

V

Validity

The extent to which data obtained from measurement are directly relevant to the target behavior and to the reason for measuring it; gauges what it claims to measure

Visual Analysis

A systematic approach for interpreting the results of behavioral research and treatment programs that entails visual inspection of graphed data for variability, level, and trend within and between experimental conditions.