Ultimate BEHV 2700 Midterm Master Guide

These flashcards cover the key concepts and terminology related to behavioral research, focusing on principles of behavior analysis, experimental designs, and conditioning processes.

Empiricism

Knowledge gained through observation and experience (basis of behavior analysis).

Dependent Variable

The behavior being measured in a study.

Independent Variable

The environmental factors that are manipulated during an experiment.

Falsifiable Hypotheses

Hypotheses that can be proven wrong through experimentation.

Correlational Relationship

A relationship where two variables may change together, but one does not necessarily cause the other.

Group Design

An experimental design that involves random assignment of participants to different conditions.

Single-Subject Design

An experimental design focusing on individual participants, allowing for control comparisons within the same individual.

Comparison Design (A-B)

A simple baseline followed by treatment design, though limited by potential confounding variables.

Reversal Design (A-B-A)

An experimental design that alternates between baseline and treatment then back to baseline to prove functional relations.

Generalization

Occurs when a new stimulus similar to the original evokes the same response.

Operant Antecedent Stimuli

Environmental signals that trigger voluntary actions based on past experiences.

Continuous Reinforcement

Reinforcing every instance of a behavior, typically used in initial learning phases.

Intermittent Reinforcement

Reinforcing some responses, useful for maintaining behavior.

Phylogeny

Innate, unlearned behavior that is genetically driven.

Pavlovian Conditioning

A learning process that involves creating associations between a stimulus and a response.

Extinction (Pavlovian)

The decreased response to a conditioned stimulus after repeated presentation without the unconditioned stimulus.

Multiple Baseline

Staggers the start of treatment across different people, behaviors, or settings

Alternating Treatments

Rapidly swapping two or more conditions to see which is more effective. Used to compare interventions or test hypotheses about why behavior is occurring. (Two-lined graph)

Reversal Design (A-B-A-B)

An experimental design that alternates from baseline to treatment, then to baseline again, then back to final treatment

Three-term Contingency

Antecedent (A) → Behavior (B) → Consequence (C)

Discriminative Stimulus (SD)

An antecedent stimulus that can evoke a specific operant response because the individual has learned that when the SD is present, that response WILL be reinforced

SD Three components

It’s learned, It evokes a specific operant response, that response has to be reinforced in its presence

S-Delta (SΔ)

An antecedent stimulus that decreases a specific operant response because the individual has learned that when the SΔ is present, that response WILL NOT be reinforced.

Discriminative Stimulus for Punishment (SDp)

An antecedent stimulus that decreases a specific operant response because the individual has learned that when the SDp is present, that response will be PUNISHED.

Discrimination Training

Reinforcing a response in the presence of SD and placing it on extinction in SΔ.

Respondent Antecedent Stimuli

biological triggers that automatically elicit reflexes.

Tight Stimulus Control

Behavior only occurs in the presence of the SD and is suppressed in the SΔ, has a narrow generalization gradient

Fixed Ratio (FR)

Reinforcer is delivered after fixed number of responses. Pattern: "Break and Run" (High response rate + Post-Reinforcement Pause).

Variable Ratio (VR)

Reinforcer is delivered after variable number of responses. Pattern: Highest, steadiest rate (no pauses). Example: Slot machines. The more unpredictable the reinforcer, the more “lever” presses

Fixed Interval (FI)

Reinforcer is delivered after the first response that occurs after a constant amount of time. Pattern: "Scallop" (Responding speeds up as the time limit nears). Organism knows the exact time the reinforcer will happen & speeds up near it

Variable Interval (VI)

Reinforcer is delivered following the first response that occurs after a variable amount of time. Pattern: Low, steady rate. No reinforcement pause, Low to moderate rate of responding

Thinning the Schedule

Gradually increasing the response requirement (e.g., going from FR1 to FR10) to make the behavior more durable.

Elicit

For reflexes and Pavlovian responses (involuntary)

Evoke

For operant behavior (voluntary)

Habituation

Response decreases after repeated exposure (getting used to a noise)

Sensitization

Response increases after exposure (getting jumpy after a scare)

Forward Conditioning

CS presented before US. Most effective arrangement

Backward Conditioning

US presented before CS.

Discrimination

Only the specific CS evokes the CR