BEH 5041 Unit 1: Introduction to Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior

Flashcards based on Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavior lecture notes.

What are three ways to obtain knowledge on how the world works?

Common sense, Logic, Experiment

What is the process of science?

Research involving systematic investigation and experimentation by manipulating variables.

What is the difference between basic and applied research?

Basic research is not immediately practical, while applied research has practical use now.

What is the meaning of the term Scientist-Practitioner?

Interventionists who make data-based decisions an integral part of their practice.

What are the goals of behavior analysis as a science?

Description, prediction, control.

What are the basic assumptions of science?

Parsimony, Philosophic Doubt, Determinism

Describe 'Parsimony' as a basic assumption of science.

The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.

Describe 'Philosophic Doubt' as a basic assumption of science.

All knowledge is tentative; be open to new data leading to new interpretations/explanations; skepticism.

Describe 'Determinism' as an overriding assumption of science.

The universe is a lawful place; phenomena occur as a result of other events in a systematic way.

What are the types of empirical science?

Natural Science and Social Science

What is a natural science and what is its subject matter?

Studies empirically observable (natural) phenomena.

What is a social science and what is its subject matter?

Studies hypothetical (inferred) constructs outside of the natural realm.

What are examples of natural sciences?

Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Behavior Analysis

What are examples of social sciences?

Political Science, Sociology, Economics

What is pseudoscience?

Investigations posing as science, but lacking in at least one of the basic assumptions of science.

What is behavior analysis?

The natural science approach to studying the effects of environmental variables on behavior.

What is the subject matter of behavior analysis?

Behavior and environmental events (natural phenomena).

What is 'learning' in the context of behavior analysis?

Relatively permanent change in behavior as a result of experience.

What is radical behaviorism?

B. F. Skinner’s philosophy of the science of human behavior that includes and analyzes all forms of behavior including thoughts, feelings, and verbal behavior.

What are the seven dimensions of ABA?

Applied, Behavioral, Analytic, Technological, Conceptually Systematic, Effective, Generality

Explain the 'Applied' dimension of ABA.

Requires a focus on socially significant human behavior.

Explain the 'Behavioral' dimension of ABA.

Requires a focus on behavior in its own right as a target for change; behavior should be directly observable and measurable.

Explain the 'Analytic' dimension of ABA.

Requires demonstration of functional relations between behavior and environmental events through systematic manipulations.

Explain the 'Technological' dimension of ABA.

Requires procedures to be clearly and completely described such that another individual could reproduce the application.

Explain the 'Conceptually Systematic' dimension of ABA.

Requires procedures to be linked to and described in terms of the basic principles of behavior.

Explain the 'Effective' dimension of ABA.

Requires behavior changes in the intended direction and to a practical degree.

Explain the 'Generality' dimension of ABA.

Requires the effects of an intervention to maintain and spread to other situations and behaviors.

What is behavior?

Everything that an organism does.

What are the critical attributes of behavior?

Biological in nature, involves action, involves interaction between the organism and the environment.

Define public behavior.

Behavior that can be observed by others, even if it is not directly being observed in the moment.

Define private behavior.

Behavior that can only be observed by the organism engaging in the behavior.

What is a 'response' in behavior analysis?

A single instance of behavior.

What is topography of a response?

The physical nature of responses, including the exact form, configuration, shape, appearance, magnitude, and movements involved.

What is the 'function' of a response?

The effect of a response on the environment.

What is a response class?

A collection of two or more topographically different responses that all have the same effect on the environment.

What are fundamental properties of behavior?

Inherent characteristics of a phenomenon that allow for measurement but exist independent of its measurement.

What are the three fundamental properties of behavior?

Temporal locus, temporal extent, repeatability.

What are dimensional quantities?

Quantifiable aspects of a phenomenon used to measure fundamental properties.

What are the six dimensional quantities of behavior?

Latency, duration, count, rate, inter-response time (IRT), celeration.

Define 'temporal locus'.

Behavior occurs at a point in time in relation to other events or behavior.

Define 'temporal extent'.

Behavior occupies (extends through) time.

Define 'repeatability'.

A response can recur (occur more than once/repeat).

Define 'latency'.

Time between two events.

Define 'duration'.

The time between the beginning and the end of a response.

Define 'count'.

Number of responses or response cycles.

Define 'rate'.

The ratio of the number of responses over time (count per unit of time).

Define 'inter-response time (IRT)'.

The time between two successive responses.

Define 'celeration'.

A change in rate over time.