RBT Exam - Data Collection

operational definitions

describing a target behavior that is observable, measurable and easily understood (interpreted the same way by everyone)

measurement

process of applying quantitative labels to observed properties of events using a standard set of rules

measurable dimensions of behavior

1. repeatability = behavior can be counted

2. temporal extent = duration of behavior

3. temporal locus = when the behavior occurs

Continuous measures

1. frequency

2. duration

3. inter-response time (IRT)

4. rate

5. latency

6. % correct/independent

7. permanent product

Discontinuous measures

1. partial interval recording

2. whole interval recording

3. momentary time sampling (MTS)

frequency

the count of how many times a behavior occurs per observation time (per minute, per hour, etc)

when do we use frequency?

• we want to measure the # of times a behavior occurs and time does not matter/is inconsistent

• when behavior occurs frequently and has an easily defined topography (ex: hitting, saying a certain word, etc)

Duration

length of time from start to end of a behavior

when do we use duration?

• behaviors with a clear start and end

• behaviors that occur at high rates or have multiple topographies that are difficult to capture (ex: tantrums)

rate

how often a behavior occurs over time —> ratio of count per observation time (# of times behavior occurred / time)

when do we use rate?

• when we want to know how many times a behavior occurs within a specific time interval

• want to compare 2+ sets of data that have unequal time intervals

IRT

amount of time elapsed btwn 2 consecutive instance of the same behavior (time = the end of one instance to the beginning of another instance)

types of IRT

1. low IRT = higher rate —> behaviors are occurring more quickly (less time btwn instances of behavior means higher rate of responding during session)

2. high IRT = lower rate —> more time elapses btwn behaviors means behaviors are happening slower/more infrequently (lower rate of responding)

wh

when do we use IRT?

• when trying to measure time btwn behaviors

• used to understand how quickly behaviors occur in succession

• ex: identifying increasing time btwn maladaptive behaviors OR identifying decreasing time btwn appropriate behaviors

latency

measure of elapsed time btwn the onset of a stimulus/instruction and the onset of a response to it

when do we use latency?

• when measuring problem behavior

• MOST COMMONLY = measure amount of time btwn a client being presented a task/instruction & how quickly they respond to it

% correct/independent

the # of correct learning responses an individual completes within a specific skill

• could be % prompted OR independent responses

permanent product

measures change in the environment after a behavior has occurred

when do we use permanent product?

• only AFTER the behavior has been completed (ex: a completed worksheet, their written name, etc)

• does NOT use a particular type of measure to collect data —> the measurement procedure is fitting to the context/environment

partial interval recording

collect data if the behavior happened AT ANY POINT during the given time interval (even if it only happened for 1sec, 1min, etc)wh

whole interval recording

collect data ONLY if the behavior happened during the ENTIRE interval (ex: if interval is 30sec, the behavior must have occurred all 30sec)

disadvantages of partial & whole interval recording

• partial interval recording = OVERestimates occurrences of behavior

• whole interval recording = UNDERestimates occurrences of behavior

momentary time sampling

data is taken at the end of an interval…only record if behavior is happening at the exact moment you are sampling —> most effective time interval is 2min

x-axis

shows time

y-axis

shows DV (target behavior)p

phase change line

line separating instances of behavior before and after intervention was implemented (a vertical line in the graph)

level

location of the data points in relation to the y-axis (high, low, etc)

trend

overall direction of the data path (is the behavior generally increasing, decreasing or staying the same?)

variability

degree to which the data points deviate from the general data path (high variability = challenging to predict patterns in data)d

data path

connected data points to show trends

SOAP notes

S - subjective info gathered from client/caregiver (NO opinions)

O - objective info from your observations (ex: client’s appearance, behaviors observed during session, etc)

A - overall clinical impression based on S & O section findings

P - plan/what is needed going forward (ex: report progress/regression, etc)