BCBA Task list C (6th edition)

Operational definition of behavior

An objective, precise, and complete behavior that allows the reader to understand whether or not the behavior has occurred

Direct measurement

Measuring a behavior itself. The individual measuring the behavior takes data by being physically present and directly observing the behavior

Indirect measurement

Measuring a behavior that differs from the target behavior itself

Permanent product recording

Measuring behavior based on its effect(s) on the environment that remain long enough to be measured

A type of measurement used when the behavior you are assessing results in a lasting product or outcome. Example: number of written assignments completed.

Frequency data (count)

A form of continuous measurement. Data in which you tally each time the behavior occurs. Typically used for behaviors with discrete beginning and ending points (i.e., throwing items or going to the gym, taking medication, hitting another person). Most frequently used type of data collection.

Percentage

Uses a ratio of two of the same type of dimensional quantities.

It's a proportion equation

Duration

The length of time from the start of a behavior to the end of a behavior

Typically used for behaviors that last too long or too short (i.e., On-task behavior, social interactions, engaging in stereotypy

Duration data

Data that is a calculation of the amount of time a behavior occurs.

The amount of time a response is performed. Track from onset to offset.

Latency

The length of time between a stimulus and the response to the stimulus

Interresponse time (IRT)

The length of time between a response and a second response of the same response class

Celeration

The measure of the acceleration or deceleration of response rates across time

Continuous measurement

Measuring every instance of the target behavior

Examples: frequency (count), rate, duration, latency, IRT, celeration

Discontinuous measurement

Measuring some, but not all, instances of the behavior

Time sampling

A form of discontinuous measurement that involves measuring behavior in intervals or specified moments of time

Whole interval recording

A form of discontinuous time sampling: the observer marks down whether or not a behavior occurred throughout the entirety of the interval

This is best used when an observer can continuously watch the behavior of a learner and when behaviors are occurring across long durations of time. An underestimate of behavior

Partial interval recording

A form of discontinuous time sample in which the observer marks down whether or not a behavior occurred at all during the interval.

This is best used when an observer cannot continuously watch the behavior of a learner, but can identify whether or not it occurred during an interval. An overestimate of behavior

Momentary time sampling

A form of discontinuous time sample. The observer marks down whether or not the behavior was occurring at the moment the interval ended

Best used when an observer does not have a lot of time to record data, when a behavior is occurring frequently, or is hard to count because it does not have an obvious start/stop

Planned activity check (PLACHECK)

An observer recording a tally of the number of learners engaged in an activity at the end of an interval.

Best used for group settings when taking detailed data is not feasible, but some level of data recording is still necessary

Trials to criterion

Measuring how many responses it took in order to achieve a specific performance goal

Cost-benefit analysis

An analysis of the anticipated benefits of an intervention compared to the anticipated costs

Training duration

The length of time spent on a particular area of teaching

Validity

The extent to which a study measured the variable(s) it intended to measure

Are we measuring the right thing?

How to evaluate validity in ABA

-Is the measurement direct?

-Is the operational definition clear and complete?

-Is the measurement system appropriate for the critical dimension?

Reliability

he extent to which a measurement is consistent/repeatable

Are we measuring the true value things the same way each time?

How to evaluate reliability in ABA

-Are the measurements taken repeatedly?

-Is the observer recording the same measurement when conditions are the same?

Critical dimension of a behavior

Is the focus on the repeatability, temporal extent, or temporal locus? Based on which dimension needs focus, a behavior analyst will select an appropriate measurement procedure

Repeatability

A behavior meets this criteria when it occurs multiple times across time

Temporal extent

The ability to measure duration

It is assessed using duration data

Temporal locus

A behavior's relation to other behaviors across time

It is assessed using latency and IRT

Environmental constraints

Limits or barriers that exist in a person's environment such as the limited availability of time, resources, money, energy, and more

Line graph

A display of data points in which each point represents a quantifiable measure of a behavior at a given point in time

Equal-interval graph

A graph that has evenly-spaced segments on the vertical axis and each segment is the same numerical distance from the one above and below

Bar graph

A graph which uses rectangular bars rather than individual points to represent data

Good to compare measurements

Cumulative record

A type of graph in which new instances of a behavior or response are added in addition to all previous instances of the behavior or response

Scatterplot

A type of visual display of data that "shows the relative distribution of individual measures in a data set with respect to the variables depicted by the x- and y-axes"

Y-axis

The vertical axis of a graph, sometimes called the ordinate

The dependent variable

Slope

In a line graph, this is measured by dividing the change in vertical distance by the change in horizontal distance between two points.

(Y2-Y1)/(X2-X1)

Level

In a line graph, this is the point on the Y-axis around which a set of behavioral measurements are on the y-axis

Trend

In a line graph, this demonstrates the direction in which the data path is going. It can be increasing, decreasing, or zero

Variability

In a line graph, this refers to the degree of difference among repeated measures of a particular behavior or response. It can be high or low

Phase change line

In a line graph, a change in the phase of a study. Example: there would be one used between the baseline and treatment phases

Data path

In a line graph, the connection of all of the successive data points within a particular phase.

Procedural integrity (fidelity)

The extent to which all procedure across an experiment or intervention are implemented correctly (including baseline)

Accuracy

The extent to which the observed value of a variable corresponds to the true value of that variable

Dosage

In ABA this is the recommended amount of time a client will receive services (each week)